I don't think that you understand my point. I think that you are taking a very reasonable idea (carrying a locator beacon on high risk dives) into some sort of libertarian straw man.
Excuse me, read the title Mandatory that means something, it comes with penalties. Don't change it to just carrying one like it was a choice that ain't the idea of the OP.
Right, that's the title posted by the OP. But as with most of these threads, it's a meandering discussion between divers, not a legal deposition. So I was just saying that there were advantages of underwater beacons in certain circumstances. Rail against the OP if you like, but I wasn't suggesting any sort of law, even if it were possible to implement such a thing.
.......and you wouldn't carry one on principle, then that's your choice. Principle has nothing to do with anything. I don't use a seat belt because my personal experience is that I don't need one. I also disable the bomb in the steering wheel because it causes me more concern that reassurance.
Do you only carry a redundant gas supply because you once needed to do a CESA? If a diver has never had a first stage failure or an LP hose blowout, would you draw the conclusion that they don't need redundancy, based on their personal experience?
If I was diving in one the 3rd world locations you bet your bibby I'd carry a locator. Divers get left behind and go missing on a pretty regular basis at those locals.
I think that you are not distinguishing between surface devices (like the Nautilus Lifeline) and underwater beacons. I have no argument about a Lifeline, and I also carry one when I dive in third world locations like New Jersey.