Removing grossly unnecessary items is not "introducing additional
complexities", it's removing them.

webbing is

 Then why don't you give us the reasons, or learn to think for yourself.

 I have over 600 dives on a backplate, and have only used a crotch strap once.

 The first time, of course, then I took it off.

 Using your own ability to observe and conclude, and not being a mindless
parrot, will make things clearer.
               
                                         Popeye  
      You have to know, not fear, that some day you are going to die.
   Until you know this and embrace it, you are useless. Tyler Durden

If that was your point, perhaps you should have said that instead of simply
preaching to others.

Feel free to explain how removing a crotch strap introduces complexity but
having one that is not needed doesn't . . . if you think you can.

You bet there are reasons why the crotch strap is there.  I happen to know
the reason, which allows me to decide when it's needed and when it's not.  I
removed mine 3 years ago.  Any time you'd like to compare complexity between
your kt and mine is OK by me.

Are you going to pay for it or do you get paid for it.

I started diving in 1962.  I was diving caves in the mid to late 60's,
before DIR and before GUE.  I used a plate system then and one of the first
things I did was remove the crotch strap, the one that added unnecessary
complexity.  I dive a plate system now, with the crotch strap removed, the
crotch strap that is unnecessary for my diving and, if left on, would only
add complexity.

Feel free to share your qualifications to define what is best for me, but if
the extent of it is that you took a DIRF course, don't waste your time.
Nobody here is impressed.

Lee

It depends on your diving.  For some, the crotch strap is nice to have.  For
others, it's a complication that offers little in return.  One of the points
to this thread is that each diver needs to consider options and adjust
his/her kit to his/her own diving and preference.

Be careful to consider context.  What a cold water diver posts doesn't
necessarily apply well to a warm water diver.  What cave, cavern and/or
wreck divers post may not be best for an open water diver.  Also stay alert
for absolutes (rarely all that absolute) and for things that become
important only because of some other equipment choice.

It still depends, but yes, that's one of the times a crotch strap can be
convenient.  Keep in mind, however, that an awful lot of people, the
majority by far, do not have a crotch strap.  They seem to do fine.

Several of us have followed a similar path.

I'm not familiar with the Zeagle system, but ditchable weights are not
necessarily a bad thing.  It is nice, however, to be able to decide between
easily ditched and not so easily ditched weight.  You might not like the
results of accidentally, or even deliberately ditching all your weight at
depth.

Unless you really need a lot of weight, this is more a complication than a
solution.  I'll start by saying that I Like small pockets threaded onto
straps on the harness.  My system, which is pretty much DIR standard in this
respect, gives me a lot of options for weight placement.  In warm water, my
6 lb stanless plate is all the weight I need.  When I do need weight, I
thread a couple of small trim pockets onto my waist belt.  4 lbs is the most
I normally carry.  If I needed more, or needed it better located, I can
thread the same kind of pocket above the shoulder D rings and/or on either
of the two tank straps.  The point is, I've added my weight in the simplest
way I could come up with, it's all ditchable (but not quick release) and
almost nothing I've added is even noticable during the dive.  The final
benefit is one you suggested.  All my weight is hooked to my plate.  None of
it is hooked to me.

There's a downside to this that you need to be very aware of.  You have to
be sure you have sufficient lift to float your kit alone.  If I were to put
a lot of lead on my plate, I'd need a different wing.  The one I prefer has
only 18 lbs of lift.  When you figure my tank is a few lbs negative when
full, my plate and single tank adapter are also about 8 lbs negative, I
don't have much to add before my wing won't float my kit.  Were I to add
extra weight, inflate the wing and toss the kit into the water, I'd better
be ready to catch it before it reaches my freediving limit.

Dive Rite and Halcyon both make them.  I'm reasonably certain other
manufacturers do too.  I like the mesh bags because they are durable and
because they drain and dry quickly.

Lee

 I put Diverite trim pockets in my waist belt, and zip stripped them to the
plate.

 Works like a million bucks.

 This is a picture of my old pockets:

 http://www.tekdivegirl.com/popeyepics/Gear%20Flicks/IMG_0284.jpg

 The new ones are in the same place, 90 degrees different, and zip stripped to
the backplate.
     

                                            Popeye          
     We train young men to drop fire on people, yet their commanders won't
   allow them to write f.ck on their airplanes because it's obscene. Col Kurtz

Not to mention indicating a diver too lazy, or afraid, to fix what is wrong
for himself.  One of my Halcyon plates, the aluminum one, came nicely
deburred.  Scott and I deburred one of my stainless plates ourselves.
Halcyon, who's customer service is better than the initial quality on some
of their products, fixed the other one for free.

I think you know the answer.

Lee