Well, it sounds like that might be a bit of a different situation. Your instructor wasn't trying to shaft you, he actually believed in that piece of equipment and was trying to help. Your BC breaking in the pool, that is another story. If the training equipment is not properly maintained I have a real problem with that. However, sometimes things break and it can't necessarily be blamed on poor maintenance. I still don't think that is reason enough for a crucifixion ...

One of the big reasons I stopped working for the shop was the shoddy equipment we had to train people in. It was all excellent quality stuff, but never maintained. I never had a class where there wasn't at least one equipment malfunction. And when I'd turn it in to the service department, it would be the same problem again next week. They wouldn't actually do anything to fix it. I would end up in the shop after hours repairing gear for my course, and there was no way I was getting paid anywhere near enough for that! Oh, the horror stories I could tell! The thing is, if there was an accident attributable to faulty gear, I'm the one whose arse was on the line, not the shop. I had to have my own insurance teaching there, and the policy states that equipment must be maintained to industry standards. So my insurance wouldn't cover me if the equipment wasn't maintained.

It is a tough line to walk for a shop between service and making a dollar, especially here where Scuba isn't as prolific as other areas. But support the guy who is doing it for the love of the sport and actually cares . . .