In article
<{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-F36647.07585509032005@news.giganews.c
om>, H. Huntzinger <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com>
wrote:

If you take Scubapro out of the equation, I think the mix has been
pretty consistant over the years.

Scubapro gave into what they perceived as a market preference for
balanced diaphragm firsts and, as you nicely put it, snuck one
(actually two at first) design into their line up several years ago. As
I understand it, these haven't been all that popular, especially
amongst two of SP's stronger market segments - rental/entry level and
"high performance" (i.e., divers willing to pay a premium for good gear
because of either a real or perceived need for such kit). Over the
years, SP has had often had 5 or more first stage designs that
attempted to address different parts of the market spectrum, including
BD designs competing with BP designs for the same market space (i.e.,
market segmentation run amok).

They've now simplified their line of first stages to one top of the
line, high performance balanced piston that addresses one of their
strongest market segments, one middle range balanced diaphragm design
that addresses the mid market (where they're not so strong),  and one
"value line" unbalanced piston design that addresses the entry
level/rental market (where they probably make most of their profit). If
you look at this simply in terms of the number of models offered today
compared with the number of models offered a few years ago, you might
come to the conclusion that SP has "shifted towards" BD designs. But if
you look at it in terms of where they're strongest and what sells the
most for them, it doesn't. Their strongest designs are aimed squarely
at their strongest market segments, and they've got a decent BD design
targeting their weakest market.

Alan

   He's really gonna be disappointed when he looks at Playboy then goes to
the beach.......

Curtis