I own my own gear that being said, i feel it depends on where you do your diving. I live in NY, renting gear for a weekend or day trip to the quarry at Dutch Springs,PA can add up. there for it pays to own. When i first started diving i dove predominantly on vacation usually 3 days of 2 tank dives. Depending where you go some places like Mexico gear is included in the $85 for a 2 tank dive. Doesn’t pay to own IMO. Other places charge small amounts per gear item that over a year time will add up but yearly service costs might call it a wash. Then factor in initial cost to buy and with scuba we are always buying stuff. Think it all goes back to what you can afford, and how often you dive. I dnt mind spending on my gear but thats me, i will never use someone elses gear if i dnt have too. Not too be a germaphob but a used reg in my mouth in the caribbean is gross same with a used peed in wetsuit. Starting out by me the local shop made me buy fins, mask, snorkel for open water class, that being said id buy my reg and octopus and gauge/computer next based on what i could afford, then BCD, tanks last. Btw hydro and visual u have to be diving alot to make ur money back. I own everything cause i dnt want to rely on the dive shop being open if at the last minute i want to go diving.