cyklon_300:
vastly different interpretations of the meaning of the word 'annoying'...
Niether my single-tank nor doubles wings have ever created anything even remotely similar to what you describe. I think the face-down thing is mostly urban legend material.
Personally, I wouldn't use a jacket bc for any type of diving...ok, well maybe in a pool to save my gear from the chlorine...
Funny, I recently bought a Seatec jacket style BC on ebay with the intent of using it in the pool. However, it is in such good condition (and it is almost identicle to the model I learned to dive with), I can't bring myself to bleach it out in the pool. Only paid $25 for it too. Maybe if I purposefully buy one in bad condition (good inner bladder, maybe scuffs or discoloration on the cover)
I would never _buy_ a Jacket style bc for normal diving. I would dive one though. I recently dove with my ebay Jacket BC and it worked fine. I could get neutral and the dive was mostly the same as a BP/W underwater. In the horizontal position, the air bubble is on your back anyhow, even with my old Seatec Jacket style BC. Doesn't mean I like Jackets (I dive a BP/W) just pointing out that it is not like they are entirely disfunctional. I dove a Jacket for about 12 years without problem, BP/W are just more ergonomic from my perspective. I rig my Jackets with a harness though, and that improves the fit enormously. I'm talking old style STAB Jackets with detachable plastic backplate/carrying handle, although I suspect more modern style Jackets (cumberbun, integrated harness, ...) are also not disfunctional.
And to make the point very clear, I am very excited about making the switch to a BP/W setup, I just think it is easy to get into an all or nothing position when reality doesn't usually like to get constrained in such a fashion.
I can spin around onto my back without problem on any of the rigs I use: no faceplant, stomach plant, or whatever for me. I can move about quite easily (summersaults (sp?) , jumps, ...). I suspect if I was more negatively loaded, I would need more air in the bladder to compensate, and it would come as no suprise to me that the location of that bubble would matter. I am typically rigging my gear with a horizontal foot down or head down concern rather than worrying about the effect of my gear on a vertical position, but I don't have problems on the surface even without that worry: one could always load up with weight and see if that mattered.
Oh, come to think of it, I did recover an item once in which I merely used my bc for the lift (bad idea but it was only in 20 feet of water). 30lb or so iron pry bar (6' long) in my hand, and at the surface I definately had a face plant
