Update:
I have up to now been struggling with trying to get the positioning of Phoenix where it should be on my back. After a few tries, I finally just realized that my current rig wasn't capable of handling it, short of blowing it apart. Eric turned my on to his Freedom plate, and I harnessed it up, and dove it yesterday. Bryan, when you said in post #2 about it breathing even better after adjusting it's position, I thought, how could it breath better? Well....
Shore dive: High tide 2:45 EST, 77* water, shallow 20 fsw. As soon as I hit the bottom, the breathing difference was incredible! On my DR plate, Phoenix sat pretty high on my back, resulting in some wet breathing and alot of headbanging (not the AC/DC kind, either) With the Freedom plate, it's literally perfect. I still can't believe how much difference that made! Every position was flawless breathing. I had the best dive yet with Phoenix.
And I know there are thousands more to come. Thanks GUYS and GALS!
**Group hug**
Lisa