mid range ($) apsc camera and housing

Catching back on our somewhat off topic equipment discussion.   OTOH, equipment choices are of key importance for distracted photographers.  Don't be one of the idiots running out of air or well under planned depth because you were chasing a subject.

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

Yes, but I'm happier with the lack of an extra hose hanging off me. The octo is only supposed to be used in an emergency, and it works fine for that. It's far too short to hand to someone else, so they'll get my regular hose. On one trip I had taken my regulator in for some preventive maintenance, and I think they put the wrong spring in it. As soon as I hit the water and took a breath, the reg was pretty much free flowing. I'd twist a knob and get it to stop - until the next breath. After a few minutes of that, I switched to the integrated and found out how uncomfortable it is in your mouth, and found that it just didn't flow air as nicely as a typical 2nd stage.

Yes, it's one less hose, but you point out the price of that convenience.   In a true emergency, your breathing rate will be elevated, and if you're donated to an OOA diver, their's will be highly elevated.    Not a good time to have to fight to get the oxygen you need.    That can lead to a hyperventilation loop.

That's why I'm keen to the necklace.   No compromise on perf, but minimizing the impact of the hose.    Nothing is more essential than the air supply.

Moving on to your BC - I'll preface that if one has happily used a piece of gear for 10 years, it will be hard to find a better replacement, even if it is technically superior.   When you know the equipment so well you don't think about it, that's what the distracted photog needs.

OK, I have to take issue here, though I'm not one to be banging about underwater. I've been using the Islander for about 250 dives over 11 years, and it looks brand new. My divemaster even complimented me on that last fall. Nothing has broken.

The risk with plastic comes with drops.   If someone drops a tank or a weight belt on it on top of it, for example.   I lost my original, first favorite mask this way.   When a small inflatable is used to ferry divers in/out, the rigs get piled up on top of each other.   If it's not well secured to the dive deck and there is rough seas, it can fall over.    Metal + webbing is nearly indestructible.

Also, I can't see how the pockets do much of anything negative, Compared to not having a pocket there would only be different by a couple of bits of fabric and a zipper.

it sticks out considerably.   That's drag or snag potential.   In the kelp forest, the latter becomes a bigger deal.   In wreck penetrations like Truk, also a concern where the DM guide stretches the notion of recreational.

I prefer the pocket along the quads, at near arm extension.

That I'm comfortable with, after 11 years. The way I dump air is to be head-up slightly or fully, and pull on my integrated air hose. That opens the top back valve and lets the air out. Occasionally if I am head-down, I may reach back to the bottom dump valve and let some air out there so I don't have to un-invert. But in either case I have a dump valve only on one side. I've made a bit of an unconscious habit of raising my right shoulder before dumping in order to make sure the air has a path out. Sometimes I'll do a big roll, mostly for fun, but also to redistribute any air in the BC. In my early days I was having issues with air trappage, but not for years now.

On U shaped wings, you also need to do the roll to the side and vent scheme.   Generally not with donut wings.   The DIR guidelines also toss away the pull dump at the shoulder as a failure point.   If you're moderately weighted or worse, losing ability to add air can be somewhere between an annoyance and real danger.    Having an expensive rig to protect ups the ante there.

Chest strap connections seem nice - except they are too close to see with my mask blocking the view to them.

Those have more value on land than in the water.   A well fitted BC shouldn't need it, and not restrict breathing any (much more an issue with the jacket BCs)

Buoyancy / trim is something I'm highly interested in. By any chance does a wing make it easiest to trim out such that you can swim back-down, looking up? There are lots of times I want to be looking upward when going under a ledge or in a crevice, but I find it a very hard skill to master. (Not to mention getting salt water in my eyes.)

eh...mildly.   An aluminum plate is only -1 or 2 pounds.   Distributing it along the back is a bit better than at the hip, but if you're carrying 6-10 lbs, not a huge improvement.   It is more so with the steel plate that is -7.   Your BC seem to offer a little range of position for weights on the back.   You'd want some high up to balance the ballast in the weight pockets.   Though I've found just strapping an ankle weight around the valve achieve that goal.