Not trying to get into virtual shouting match with bubble, and we will probably never agree anyway, but my personal opinion is that he is off base. You are obviously a new diver and looking for recommendations on gear. I wouldn't expect you to have the experience to know when a regulator requires servicing, nor would I expect you to know the difference between an unbalanced Aeris A1 and over balanced environmentally sealed XTX50. My recommendation to dive what your buddies dive is only a suggestion. Your buddies may know a certified reg tech that can service your equipment for a discount, or they can compare the way your regulator breathes to theirs (if similar equipment) and that may help indicate a problem. As for annual service, I can't more strongly disagree. Inside those regulators are o-rings, springs, and seals. O-rings can break (had a high pressure o-ring on a rental reg in shop today that broke while a student was using it sent bubbles everywhere) and springs can degrade (Dive rite recall anyone). I never want to be 2 days into a 5 day live aboard trip and need to have my equipment serviced, the yearly cost is just piece of mind IMO.
You didn't indicate the type of diving you were going to be doing so a little information would greatly help us point you in a general direction.
1) Do you plan in dive in water colder than 50f?
2) Do you plan to get additional certification, say advanced open water, and dive to depths approaching 100 feet or more?
3) Do you plan to dive in murky conditions (like a local quarry) with a lot of sediment in the water?
4) What is your actual budget and by that I mean what are you comfortable spending.
To me no other piece of gear is as important as your regulator. You can deal with a dead computer or broken BC while diving but a failure in your regulator is an immediate problem.
If you want a really decent regulator setup check out the HOG gear sold by
Dive Right Inn Scuba. 265$ for what is basically an Apeks XTX50. You will never out breathe that regulator and you have a local shop in Houston (
Giggen Marlin Divers) that is listed as a dealer. HOG is also one of the only manufactures that allows owner to learn to service their own gear which can save you money in the long run.