Quote: (Originally Posted by
Gill Envy)
Andy, I think the real reason for the push for more bells in whistles is driven by two things.
1. it helps the, new to rebreathers, perspective client feel that a unit is more safe than another. .
No offense intended to the new folks, but IMHO promoting an integrated ECCR as being more safe than one that is not, is really a bad idea, especially for an entry level diver. I know it's a bit intimidating to some prospective divers that you're taking your life in your hands every time you dive CCR, but if you can't handle the idea that you're responsible for verifying your unit is working properly before the dive and responsible for frequent PO2 checks during the dive, you shouldn't be diving CCR.
Quote: (Originally Posted by
Gill Envy)
2. I'm pretty sure eCCR's are more profitable than mCCR's. In eCCR design, meeting true needs seems to be trumped by perception of need by the consumer and profit motive by the manufacturer.
I don't doubt this at all and actually, I think that to a degree, some bells and whistles are added to help justify the high price of integrated ECCRs. Not so bad if we're talking about adding a distance sensor to the rear bumper of a big pick-up truck. If it works, great, if it breaks, you can still back the thing up the hard way. But if we're talking about features on an ECCR that simultaneously promise more safety yet are unreliable and even limit/nanny your behavior, we have a potentially very dangerous situation, more so if the diver is a beginner. -Andy