Sure...
I've not been certified that long, but quickly became obsessed with diving.
We continue to dive all winter long here with air temps at 17 degrees and
water temps around 36 degrees. While we do get to Florida once in awhile and
dive in tropical conditions, most of our dives are in the St. Clair River in
Michigan which is between Detroit and Port Huron on the Eastern end of the
state, or Lake Huron. We can gear up in our house, walk across the lawn and
jump in the river for a drift dive. Usually 1/2 to 3/4 mile drift. In
addition, in summer when the boat is in we can head up to Lake Huron and do
deeper dives on some very in tact wrecks, some 40-50 feet deep, some much
deeper. The river dives typically offer a 5mph current and visibility as low
as 8 inches, to a good day of 10-20 foot visibility...and there are also
many wrecks in the river.
Like most divers, the local dive shop will set new divers up with an
aluminum 80, and a jacket style BC and all the other danglies that go along
with it.
The risks in our area are numerous. The river especially. In addition to
swift currents, there is much boat traffic including 1000 foot freighters
that even though we try to avoid, sometimes end up directly above during our
dive.

A few incidents which caused me to change my gear configuration;

1. Wreck w/current, low viz

Diving a new found 175 foot fully in tact 1889 wreck in the river last
summer, my brother and I were diving with a new diver, we were down only
about 55 feet in about 3 foot visibility. The new diver panicked, silted us
out and he bolted to the surface in a high traffic boat area. My brother and
I stayed down, waited a bit for the current to clear but it never really
did, so we ventured towards the bow. With no visibility at this point we
noticed it getting darker. At this point we figured we'd accidentally swam
through a hole in the side of the ship and accidentally penetrated the
vessel. Of course now my regulator begins to free flow, and quickly deplete
my air supply.
Having only a single, with only an Air2 off the same source, shutting down
this reg was not an option.
Not panicking, following our course and keeping my brother close by in case
his air was needed got us back to our proper exit point. I had 100 lbs of
air left when I surfaced.
If I had doubles, I could have switched to my other reg, and cut the faulty
supply.
Or
If I had a single with an H-valve, could have cut faulty reg and used other.

2. Drift Dive

Drifting along the St. Clair River bottom it was time to ascend, so, I add
air to my jacket style BC...Nothing.
The Air2 had failed, and air added was simply coming out of the air2
mouthpiece. The BC would not inflate.
I could have simply dumped my weight belt, but chose to crawl along the
bottom up the drop off to get to the sea wall. I am familiar with the river
and had a good supply of air left and didn't want to have to replace the
weight belt.

3. In general

The 1st day I dove with the backplate bladder instead of the jacket, I felt
I had been diving for 30 years. The biggest noticeable difference was trim
and control. I will never wear a jacket style BC again.
Also the weight of tank(s) is shifted and much easier to carry above water.

4. DIR/Hogarthian/Tech?

After researching configurations, I've learned that tech and DIR have many
similarities. I didn't go DIR but have adapted some DIR principles that work
for my dives here in Michigan. DIR is a little rigid and cave oriented, and
unrealistic in dependence on buddies (who can disappear downstream quickly
in 3 foot viz).
I do like the redundancy aspect but the minimalism of DIR isn't possible
here in the great lakes.
Basically part of the new configuration is;
DiveRite SS Backplate
Zeagle bladder for singles or DiveRite Classic bladder for doubles
STA for singles w/H-valve or OMS manifold for doubles
Mares Abyss primary reg on 7 foot hose (5 foot is probably ok here, but 7
isn't a problem at all to tuck away)
Scuba Pro R190 Necklaced backup reg

Bottom line is, configuring my gear to my environment and what is
comfortable works for me.

Thanks!