At the end of the day, Bob is right, it's a free country and you can do whatever you want.
BUT, don't expect much (any?) leeway at major events, and for those of us that are certified by USSA, we are expected to uphold the rules that are in place. I like to think that as catsailors, we are always thinking outside of the box anyway, and I know that most of us really try to make everyone happy (and we all know how much of a moving target that can be).
I am intentionally not discussing the merits of CE vs USCG, because that argument can go around forever.
If enough sailors feel strongly enough about this, why not petition USSA to make a change? They might go for it, or they might come back with other answers you won't like.
Remember, KISS is usually the best answer. There's nothing stopping anyone from buying a USCG PFD. If the buoyancy that will keep you face up in the water is a nuisance, maybe you should be reassessing your priorities.
Mike
Because of the rule that requires trapeze harnesses to float (43.1(b)), you'll float butt-up if you're unconscious, no matter what PFD you're wearing.
I discovered that when I went for a fully geared up swim in the pool at the 16 Worlds in Mexico. (You needed the chlorine to kill the seawater stink.)
