I understand what you are saying from to 2 perspectives I’m an Instructor and when teaching a OW student I am for all intent a purpose a solo diver. Then when out for recreation if I don’t have a buddy with me many Dive Ops like to make use of my skills an pair me with a less experienced diver. Depending on my expectations of the dive I can either allow that to stand or inform the Op that they will need to pay for my services or pair me with an experienced active diver. On the other hand I’ll warn you about first impressions. One of my regular buddies is also a Instructor who looks my age but is younger nearly 10 years younger. (I’m 51) He is a friendly but somewhat reserved person. As a dive buddy and instructor I respect his abilities. His SAC rates are amazing always finishing dives with plenty of reserve air. In fact while diving with his father and my wife in Coz last year he and my wife had enough air to continue for another 10 minutes when his father needed to surface being only a few minutes away from the need myself I took his father to the surface and allowed my wife and him to continue. How many people would you trust as a buddy for a loved one? I only have 1 other buddy that I may be ready to do that with and it isn’t my wife. (she is an adequate OW diver but not at a level that she could take charge in an emergency) That is why I’ll give divers that took the initiative to become rescue certified extra effort to communicate with. People like myself that dive regularly in sub optimal conditions at their local lakes also tend to want to become better divers. They train and practice. I like C-Card collectors although many in our sport complain about them I find they want to learn, take advice and practice to become better divers. It’s not a guarantee but nothing is.