I think that you have to accumulate your equipment slowly. Otherwise, you’ll be purchasing things twice. I’ve been accumulating things over time and am happy with my purchases. However, the things I bought right away, I am thinking of replacing...
For a BCD - make sure you’ve got plenty of space for intergrated weights, as I find I am shoving the MAX (I don’t go over) into the weight pouches and it is stretching out the pockets on my Sherwood.