That's a nice sentiment but it doesn't reflect my experience with DIR oriented divers - some of whom show up in expensive drysuits, $500 BT's, canlights and scooters to do the same dives I'm doing with my St72, $10 jets, Gekko and 50 year old doublehose. I've never met an equipment cheap DIR diver yet. The peer pressure is too great and if you say it isn't I'll call B-----.
My gear, with prices paid as best I recall:
-DiveRite backplate (used, $65)
-Halcyon Eclipse 40 wing (used, $350) - I took Fundies in a Oxycheq Mach V, which I still use as my singles wing
-DiveRite regs (purchased new as a singles package for $550; have since added a few first and second stages to the stable which I generally purchase for less than $80 apiece, used)
-JetFins ($30 off eBay) with Piranha spring straps ($20)
-Took Fundies in a 7mm BodyGlove wetsuit off the clearance rack, $100 or so
-Have since upgraded to a drysuit (DUI CLX450 with all the trimmings, $700-800 used)
-Undergarments were from Ron on eBay. There was a sizing issue so it only cost me $65.
-For really cold diving, I bought a new Santi BZ400. That was murder on the budget, but it was the only way to do the dives I wanted to this year. $550.
-Viking dryglove rings $100 or so
-Showa orange gloves, $3-4 apiece
-1m DSS SMB, $35 used
-6ft Piranha SMB, $30 or so. I hate it even after replacing the plastic ring with a metal one, and will likely buy something nicer soon.
-Piranha backup lights, $25 apiece (these were the 180 lumen heads in the 220 bodies, so they were on clearance)
-21W Salvo HID, $500 used
-Tec2g, $150 or so on eBay
Etc. etc. This is my setup through Tech 1. For Fundies, it was even cheaper.
In general, my approach has been to buy used and upgrade when I think it is worth the money to. The minimalism of DIR really helps with gear purchases if you can avoid paying MSRP and buying Halcyon everything. Places I think are worth splurging are:
-Exposure protection (drysuits *must* fit and vent well)
-SMBs
-Backup lights (the Piranha ones are fine but keep cutting the cave line and don't sit quite right.