I think that many people REALLY don't know their options when it comes to selecting a BCD. Their are too many small dive shops around the country that don't show the complete picture of what the industry has to offer, but instead only the two or three vendors that they deal with. Too many dive shops force poodle jackets on the consumer because the training agencies say that is the norm... I've had a PADI Course Director tell me that I would fail his IDC if I showed up to class in a backplate/wing and that the only way for me to pass his class is if I used a jacket BCD. This is coming from a person who has NEVER seen my teaching ability OR my in water skill. I've seen this same attitude from many instructors, not only locally, but in many of the places around the world that I've talked to about taking an IDC... This leads me to believe that at least one training agency drives the market by telling their instructors what is and is not appropriate gear to wear while instructing courses.
You might be right about new divers exposure to only select gear...but you are wrong about the reasons. I, more than any other retailer, have put myself out publically ON THIS VERY BOARD to point out the things that are wrong in the industry, and must be changed. In fact, it cost me my largest equipment line.
Dealers show a limited amount of product lines becase they CAN'T show more. The rules are too restrictive and they don't have enough money to display it all. Remember, if a dealer wants to add a wetsuit line that has three styles, mens and womens, 14 sizes, and three colors....the investment is over $40,000! Same with BC jackets.
Most of the BP/W industry resides in third tier manufacturers...those with VERY little market penetration in the aggregate. When a store has limited money to spend, he is forced to put the products in that the largest majority of buyers want. It doesn't much matter WHY they want them...they just want them!
In my store, we do it a little different. We show ALL types of buoyancy to our new customers. We even tell them that our entire staff uses a harness of some sort. So, what is the largest selling BC in our store? The standard jacket. We also have an obligation to teach RENTING students in the gear they will be able to rent. If there are ANY boat operations that offer BP/W for rent, I don't know about them. We teach RENTING students in the gear they are likely to see when they travel.
Many people come onto this board and say "I am thinking about buying all of my gear for my training" EVERYONE says, "Oh no, don't do that!" "Rent and see what you like." If they follow that advice, they will rent standard jackets when they travel and that is what they will like. I find that "don't buy first" advice completely strange. Of our students that PURCHASE before they train, many (about half) purchase harnesses. To advise them not to purchase actually PREVENTS them from ever experiencing that gear the many "think everyone should have."
Oh well, maybe the future will change things.
Phil Ellis