In reply to Silum:
> what about setting up belays? Two crabs opposed? That would be heavier than a screwgate. Or you just attach everything to your single HMS?
Unless the gate is likely to be forced open I just clip the gear with a quickdraw or whatever comes to hand, in the rare occasions that it might be opened I oppose 2 karabiners.
Equalise the pieces on to the loop created by tying in. Just pass a bight through the loop and tie a figure of 8. Its old skool but works and saves carrying screwgates.
People may argue the relative merits of being able to "escape the system" but I've never really needed to. I think shoving loads of clove hitches on a biner is clumsy, regardless of adjustability.
I don't do a lot of multipich but I might do something different there depending on circumstances like leading all pitches, depends on the partner, the route, the cliff etc...
Thats just my take on it - not botherd what folk think or do themselves really. I get the impression in the old days all this building a belay with equalised pieces wasn't bothered with anyhow.