AKR offers a friendly, low key, relaxing environment. I've been a half dozen or more times and always found it to be outstanding. Not fancy by any stretch of the imagination, it's just very comfortable. Staff are helpful and friendly.
Re rooms, bugs really aren't an issue in the AC/no AC decision. Throughout Roatan (and the Bay Islands), no-see-ums are just a part of life and you learn to work around them, but I've never had a problem with bugs in the rooms (with or without AC). I've been in AC and no AC rooms even in the August heat and, while AC can certainly be welcome at times, I've found no AC rooms on the Key to be perfectly comfortable because of breezes off the water. But I suspect the AC issue is one of personal comfort and preferences.
DMs give a reasonable degree of latitude for experienced divers, computers, and nitrox. They don't go ballistic re people exercising some freedom once they are comfortable with a diver's skill.
Re gear, there is a gear shack & fresh water rinse tank right at the dock, mere feet away from the dive boats. You leave your gear there and it is safe and secure. You therefore don't have to tote your gear more than about 10 feet! Tanks are handled by staff, but you load/unload/rinse your own gear.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. I will be down at AKR at the end of the month and the first week of May. Let me know if you're going to be there too.