Hoag
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For the OP, IMHO, you were totally justified in questioning the state of the rental gear you were using. You should always question what has been referred to as the "3Ds" - anything that is Dumb, Dangerous or Different.
Having said that, if I was renting a reg, I would spend a few bucks before I left and pick up a generic mouthpiece at my LDS before I left home. If the rental mouthpiece was as badly chewed up as you say, then the $15-20 for a new one that nobody had used would be worth it. (Besides, who knows how well it has been disinfected between users. Not everywhere has the same health standards as home.) For a minor cost, you can avoid the risk of getting cold sores or potentially worse from the mouthpiece on a rental reg.
I hope you have a better experience on your next trip.
Having said that, if I was renting a reg, I would spend a few bucks before I left and pick up a generic mouthpiece at my LDS before I left home. If the rental mouthpiece was as badly chewed up as you say, then the $15-20 for a new one that nobody had used would be worth it. (Besides, who knows how well it has been disinfected between users. Not everywhere has the same health standards as home.) For a minor cost, you can avoid the risk of getting cold sores or potentially worse from the mouthpiece on a rental reg.
I hope you have a better experience on your next trip.