Henry Morgan:
I'll be using a single AL 80 for now. When I eventually get a set of doubles, I'll probably just put together a second BP/Wing combo for those. Thought I had put that in the post somewhere, but I guess not. I'm thinking I'll get a donut type wing, not sure from which manufacturer though.
Ok, so you're looking for a 26-35# lift, single, donut wing. That narrows the field coniderably. Takes Dive Rite out of the running, as well as Golem, Agir, and some others. The DSS is new, the Halcyon has been around a long time, the Oxycheq is new.
Henry Morgan:
The Halcyon ones look pretty nice, but I've seen posts about defects with the bladders and the power inflators. That's part of what prompted me to post here. I had intended to drive up to High Springs and just go to Extreme Exposure to check out their gear, but I saw a couple of posts on quality control issues at Halcyon, and really I don't know if it's true or just political bs.
Political BS? No. Halcyon has indeed had issues with their power inflator sticking. Hasn't affected everyone. Mine has been flawless. That said, they have abandoned the stainless steel inflator and gone back to plastic. Sticking issue should be a thing of the past. Going up to EE is still a good idea. Stop by Cave Excursions East, and Salvo while you're there. Get a full lay of the land. Salvo will have the Golem and Agir wings. Cave Excursions will have the DSS and Oxycheq as well as Dive Rite.
Henry Morgan:
One thing I did really like about that BC was that it had dual lower dump valves, which is a feature I haven't seen on any of the wings that I've looked at so far.
You won't see that "feature" either. AS has been mentioned, each valve is a potential failure point. Some BC's I've seen have 4. really you only need 2. Left side by your butt, and the exhaust on the end of the inflator. The idea is that you use your left hand to control all your buoyancy. Inflate, deflate. Easy.
Henry Morgan:
I guess what I really want to know is if there's really any difference between gear from the different manufacturers, or do they all perform pretty much the same in the water?
We really need to make this a FAQ.
Is there a difference? Yes. Do they all perform similarly in the water? Yes.
A few things to watch for:
1. How wide/narrow is the wing. Although this is an issue of drag, the location of the butt dump is important. If you're a larger person with a very narrow wing, the pull dump can be a challenge to get to at times.
2. How long is the corrugated hose? The Halcyon is perfect. The DSS is also good from what I hear. The Dive Rite is too long and really needs to be modified for best effect. The Golem is a bit longer than I would like, but it ok. The Oxy seemed ok when I used it.
3. How many grommet holes are there? More an issue with doubles wings, but multiple grommet holes allow you to adjust trim a bit which is nice.
4. Does the BP come with an STA? You'll get a few arguments, but an STA is really the way to go.
5. Is this a bladder in a bag design or an RF Welded bladder. Both have their merits, but the bladder in a bag design is tougher. My single wing is not like this, but my double wing is.
6. Can I get this with just the basic 5 D-Rings and hog harness. OMS makes this a pain, but the others are fine.
7. How far does the plate sit off my back? Some sit close like the DSS, others sit further away. May cause issues if you want to reach your tank valve. And you DO.
8. Can I get steel or Aluminum, and which do I need? With my steel BP and an AL80, I wear no weight. Keep this in mind.
9. How well finished is the plate? Should be deburred and clean. Most are, some aren't. Does the plate accomodate the normal 2" crotch strap or only the 1" strap?
I'm sure there's stuff I am forgetting, but this is most of the basics. Overall, you're going to like them in the water. Much cleaner than what you've been used to.
Where I live many of them will tell you ANYTHING to get a sale.) 
