Hi Kevin,
As you say, no-one can match the resources of the USN, however military requirements often do not match civilian requirements. My understanding is that military operational requirements are for generally shallow diving, used by extremely fit individuals. Sports units are now designed to take divers to 100m, where there is a significant work of breathing difference to the 40m of USN testing, especially when you consider that most of the tech divers I have met do not exactly measure up to USN fitness levels...
Me included
In most situations WOB isn't an issue; but when the proverbial hits the fan it may be the difference between Davey Jones and a pint of Guinness.
I guess the best way to solve any debate on the matter is to put these units to the same civilian tests and see how they go - I genuinely don't know but am curious. Want to donate a new MK16 for testing
Cheers,
Ben.