You must really hate shops that make recommendations and attempt to help you. The internet is awful for that.Another question concerns me, how do you buy the diving gear you want when dive shops do not offer what you want? I bought my regulator, octopus and dive computer from manufacturers' websites, not scuba wholesale stores, yet dive shops discourage online purchases.
I understand the importance of getting a feel and fit on items such as exposure suits, boots, fins, masks, undergarments and so on, but what if a particular item is not available to try on? If you buy directly from the manufacturer online, getting the gear you want would not be a problem.
There’s an element of use 'em or loose 'em with dive shops. Then where are you going to get your gas and training?