What BC for drysuit?

[fishchaser]

Thanks to everyone for their input. It definitely sounds unanimous.

I guess I'm still slightly hesitant because I'm at a different point in the hobby than ya'all. I have a hand full of dives under my belt, I have a newborn daughter, and I'm not sure how many dives per year I'm going to do, and definitely no ice dives in the forseeable future. I'm hoping for about 5-10 dives (days of diving) per year. I'd love to say more, but the facts/priorities probably won't support it for a while.

Also, I'm unsure about if this hobby interest will continue many years, therefore, I was trying to keep the initial startup costs down. Like when I learned how to fly airplanes several years ago, I didn't go out and buy a Leer Jet. Heck, I didn't buy any plane...I just rented. I've thought about just renting the scuba stuff, as Diver Dan's have a great rental rate, but the multiple day hassle of driving 30 miles RT to the LDS to pick up the equipment the night before, and another 30 miles RT after the dive is bothersome and would probably restrict my diving as opposed to owning the equipment. IF the hobby continues, I wouldn't have a problem RE-buying equipment to suit me better down the road.

So, when I first priced out starting costs to buy my own gear, it was around the $1200-1500 range, with wetsuit. Now it's starting to look more like the $3000-4000 range. I've started to mentally accept the price adder for the drysuit, simply due to comfort...less likely to use the equipment if I find myself cold all the time. I'm just having a problem with the sprialing startup costs.

So, since I'm clueless about this B/P thing. Could someone answer a couple questions about them? So, it seems these pieces are sold individually. Need a SS backplate, a harness and a wing? Is that it? What about a tank strap? Which brands/models would be recommended? (Deano mentioned a Dive Rite rec wing.) Can you still doff the tank and wing while in the water like other BCs to climb back in the boat? (Sorry for the newbie questions, but gotta learn somewhere/sometime.)

Lastly, would a back inflation BC be your 2nd choice, and a Jacket BC a distant 3rd, or not even considered?

Thanks again!
Chad