Zeagle? the end all? hmmm I would have to disagree with that but I agree that they are pretty good quality. I do NOT like their design though. I know many people who use the Sherwood Avid (pretty inexpensive at the local giant sporting good chain) I know several people who like the Scuba Pro Knight Hawk, same for the dive rite transpac (if I decided to do recreational only and couldnt use my back plate I would pick this) and I use a back plate with wings which I feel is the be all end all of BCs. The stainless steel back plate weights ~5lbs ( dispersed over your lungs not hanging from your weight belt) never wears out or has stitching break, modular wings so you can get an air cell big enough for double steel tanks with a dry suit or a smaller wing super aerodynamic for tropic diving with no wetsuit. The harness is simple 2" nylon webbing that is indestructible but if it fades from the sun or you decide you just want a different color harness it costs about $20 to replace. There is no diving you can not do with a back plate and wing, its totally modular, and having the air in the bc behind your back will help keep you horizontal while in the water so you don't plow through the water while you swim. It may take a little while getting your back plate properly adjusted (the first time) but once its dialed in, no other type of bc is as stable.
re: weight integrated, its all the rage, Ive known people who lost a weight pocket while diving and had to sit out the rest of dive because they had no where to put weight. If you ever try to take a DM class you probably wont like them when it comes time to remove your gear underwater and swap with a team mate. With a weight belt, you still have weight keeping you down, with weight integrated when you remove your bc you remove your ballast...
you can also easily move your weight belt up and down your body to perfect you center of gravity so again you dont go swimming around with you fins pointing to the silty bottom. Most dive bags dont like the pouches of weights stuck inside while transporting gear, if its a weight belt, throw it over your shoulder or just wear it. What happens if you're out on a boat enjoy a dive, get back on board as a whale starts swimming around your boat, with a weight integrated you wear everything, if its a weight belt, grab your mask and snorkle (if you have a snorkle) and have fun with the wildlife.
