Right now, I don't do much advanced diving, only once as of yet. . . . That in itself makes any computer future planning, let alone a more complex one. But, if that planning comes to fruition, I don't want to buy twice either. That makes the argument for the Vyper Air without the transmitter for the time being. . . . So, has anyone followed a similar path, and been happy with their choices, or would you have done things differently?
I see no problem with what you are planning. I bought a Vytec years ago, and didn't buy a transmitter for 5 years afterward. Once I bought it, I liked it, as a convenience. I also like the bigger displays on the Suunto models like the Vyper AIR and the HeLO2 (and the Vytec). Personally, I find the wrist watch style units (D4, D6, etc) to be expensive and hard to read. I don't care to wear my dive computer as a watch, anyway. (That is what my cell phone is for.)
AI is a convenience, nothing else. You have explicitly stated that you do not intend to eliminate the 'hard wired' gauges (good for you) so concerns about reliability are not particularly applicable. So, I see nothing at all wrong with what you plan to do.
Of course, if you really want to open the door to A LOT of extraneous discussion, we could talk about you moving to a BCD with a waist strap and a hip D ring, so you could clip your SPG (only, and lose the console) to a D ring, etc. etc.)
But, let's not go there. That isn't what you asked about.
The second concern is the transmitter. I see what happens at work and home with wireless system. This makes me question under water wireless. Also, I can see the transmitter getting damaged easily.
I don't see the transmitter as fragile, although I confess I am on my third transmitter. The first one (bought used on eBay) was stolen, after giving 5 years of good service. The second one (bought used on eBay) flooded in salt water, twice within several months of purchase. The first time, I successfully cleaned it up - amazing what putting an electronic device in a little GMC hydrosonic cleaner will do. The second time, I decided it was an annoying problem and replaced it. The third one (bought new) works fine. So, I haven't had a real issue with damage - although I suspect the second one was somehow damaged before I bought it, probably why it was being sold. I wouldn't worry about it, unless you plan to drop your cylinder on it. I do disconnect mine from my first stage after diving. I also attach mine to a short, 6" hose rather than directly to a first stage port. I don't know if that makes any difference in the potential for damage, but it keeps the unit from awkwardly sticking out from the first stage in a vulnerable position.
