extreme depths won't cause you to need massive amounts of lift. the bottles you dive will effect your negative buoyancy, but this turns into a discussion on Aluminum stages vs steel stages, etc...
i can't imagine your instructor has been teaching TDI for 40 years, as I remember when TDI started in 1993, in fact i worked their booth in San Francisco (DEMA/TEK) in 1995.
My primary dive buddy uses the HP130's with a 60lb evolve. i dive HP102's with a 40lb wing. I don't like the 60lb with the 102's as it has a bit of tendency to taco (and taco's are for AFTER the dive).
I'm a prime example of an old dog being able to learn new tricks, and being happier in the end. I've dove both ways that are being described and simply i like my current kit (halcyon evolve 40 on HP 102's, aluminum stages, etc..) hugely better than anything else i've dove through the years (starting with a diverite classic, then an OMS double bladder, bungied, giagantor wing, and everything in between with negative steel stages)
i can't imagine your instructor has been teaching TDI for 40 years, as I remember when TDI started in 1993, in fact i worked their booth in San Francisco (DEMA/TEK) in 1995.
My primary dive buddy uses the HP130's with a 60lb evolve. i dive HP102's with a 40lb wing. I don't like the 60lb with the 102's as it has a bit of tendency to taco (and taco's are for AFTER the dive).
I'm a prime example of an old dog being able to learn new tricks, and being happier in the end. I've dove both ways that are being described and simply i like my current kit (halcyon evolve 40 on HP 102's, aluminum stages, etc..) hugely better than anything else i've dove through the years (starting with a diverite classic, then an OMS double bladder, bungied, giagantor wing, and everything in between with negative steel stages)