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There's a downside to bp/w?
(j/k)
Others have pretty much covered it. Incidentally, I'm a photographer with a bp/w and I don't have any trouble holding the position I want. I'd submit the person complaining didn't take the time to learn to dive their bp/w, and instead gave up when it was "different".
I put a Dive Rite bellows pocket on my waist band when I'm diving tropical. That covers the minimal gear I need for recreational diving in warm water. Else, in cold water, I'll wear x-shorts or my drysuit has pockets.
If you want to float vertically at the surface, they're not as good as jackets. Same for any rear inflate bc, however. I prefer to recline back anyway, so that's not a negative for me.
A bp/w does put the tank higher than most people are used to. There's a reason, however... you should be able to reach your valve in case of a problem. With regular BCs holding the tank a lot lower, you're in a world of trouble if you need to reach your valve.
The crotch strap is a non-issue. Takes one second to connect, and if it's sized right, you never even notice it when it's on. Even in a 3mm wetsuit. Maybe different in just shorts... I've never tried it in that state, though. In a 7mm wetsuit or drysuit, forget it, you'll never feel it.
It's true that they're not quite as easy to put on and take off. But for me, what's more important, donning and doffing for a few seconds at the start and end of the dive, or how it fits you while you're diving? I buy gear for hot it functions underwater. That's far more important than how it functions on land.
Shoulder staps on skin. I don't know. I've never worn a bp/w on skin, only over a wetsuit or drysuit. I suppose that may have some merit, but it only applies in the warmest of warm water diving, which is such a tiny portion of my diving it hardly matters. (and when I do it, it's 100% from a boat, so pretty much irrelevant since you're not hiking)
Plate on lower back? Something is not sized right or attached right. It's nearly impossible for the plate to touch your lower back, unless perhaps you have a super-tiny tank on a singles rig. I've heard some women complain about it hitting the top of their rear end, however... for those blessed with an overly-abundant "back porch". Kim Kardashian may want to consider other options. LOL
Difficulty assembling? Well, you only assemble once, generally. And only the complicated harnesses are complicated. Yup. Go figure.
No shoulder dumps. Actually, that's not true. Several DiveRite wings have pull dumps. I consider them a failure point and swap them out to standard hoses, however. Other wings, if it's that important to you, you could swap it the other way if you really want, and change a standard hose to a pull dump. Either way, this is a non-issue... and if you're diving in proper horizontal trim, the butt dump is more convenient and easy to use anyway.
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