But to put this into context of the original question... AI has a lot of benefits - real time SAC rate, air time remaining, bottom time remaining, and perhaps other things I am not aware of. I could imagine that some tech divers don't invest in AI as the benefits are not applicable to the various elements of their tech diving. So then the question for those tech divers would be, is it worth it to invest in it if the benefits are largely around their recreational diving?
I imagine the answer for some would be, yes. For some, no.
My Atom does not give me real-time SAC. It just shows current tank pressure and ATR in real-time. I look at RMV data after downloading to my PC.
As far as being "worth" it as I advance in Tech diving, my thought is that. I like AI and would like to continue to have it for Rec diving, for sure, and might like to have it for Tech diving. At least/especially at the beginning of my Tech "career" while I'm still learning my RMV under different conditions and, hopefully, while it's still improving.
So, my current choices (that I'm choosing to consider) are, either, keep my Atom and use it with AI on a Rec reg set, use it in Gauge mode for Tech stuff, and buy a Petrel 2 for Tech use. Or, I could not buy a Petrel, sell the Atom, and buy a SeaBear H3 with wireless AI to use for Rec and Tech diving.
In either scenario, I would keep the Aeris A300 computer I have, to use as a backup - in gauge mode where appropriate.
Part of my personal valuation is that I personally would prefer not to have a computer as large as the Petrel on my arm when I'm doing recreational dives. Or, really, ever, actually. But, if I'm doing a tech dive, with doubles, slinging a deco bottle, etc, it definitely seems like it would be less of an annoyance versus diving in a thin wetsuit or less, with a single AL80 and wanting feel somewhat minimalistic.
As a "worth" evaluation, I think the H3 option would meet my needs for less cash out of pocket. And give me a form factor that I prefer in all scenarios, plus give me wireless AI in my primary DC in all scenarios as well. Win, win, win. I think. Pending details and pricing on the H3 AI, of course, and a bit more real world usage reporting on the H3 itself.
IOW, the statistics of the answer to the question of whether hoseless AI is "worth it" to tech divers may change quite a bit once there is a tech computer available that people regard as reasonably comparable to a Petrel and that also offers AI.