If these BPW systems are so flexible and so forth how come I own four wings, four backplates and really need another wing? And how come all the people I have been diving with then last few weeks are just as sorted in the water in their Buddy Commandos as I am? And how c9me a wing costs as much as those Buddy Commando BCDs? And then I have to spend as much again on a backplate and harness?
Would the diving you do that requires four BP/W combos, be fixed with one BCD? Or would you likely have four Buddy Commandos as well? Just trying to understand what it is that you're saying. I would guess most people have multiple BP/W setups because they don't want to reconfigure their gear each time there may be different dive requirements, not because the BP/W setups aren't flexible enough to handle it.
I would definitely agree with test diving gear if possible. And urge people to not let others spoil their diving. Granted, I also dive a monochrome computer and sometimes a back inflate BCD.