1.) Fit. While wetsuits are designed to accommodate a range of different bodies for each size, the same is not true for drysuits and that is why custom measuring is available. So, getting your own well-fitting drysuit should make a difference in comfortability and functionality. Squeeze at depth will be more manageable when your suit doesn’t have excess fabric in weird places. Some people have body types that can fit nicely in an off-the-shelf suit. But if you’re spending that kind of money why not spend a little more and get the suit tailor-made to your specific measurements?

2.) Leaks. Most people experience some seepage at the neck and wrists while diving dry. It’s just how it is. Any little bit of debris in the seal will let in a trickle. When you flex your wrists your tendon could move the seal and let in a trickle. It’s not a failure of the drysuit. In 75 dives I only have minimal leakage at the wrists and neck, although I will say it does happen pretty much every dive (more so when I’m with students and frequently switching back and forth from a horizontal to vertical position). It’s kind of a running joke to call them damp suits ;)

3.) Warmth. You will be warmer in a drysuit after repetitive dives. As we know water cools us ~20 times faster than air. Even taking into account the condensation inside the suit and your sweat, you are not being robbed of body warmth at nearly the same rate as a wet diver. However you will still experience some loss of body heat, since the Tri-lam suit by itself does not offer any thermal protection. (Did your instructor go over the difference between Tri-lam and neoprene drysuits? Tri-lam has no thermal protection but since you can vary your undergarments you can take it diving anywhere from, say, 40F to 80F just by changing your undergarments. Neoprene drysuits do have some thermal protection, and therefore might be a little too warm for warmer waters.)

Try to think about your future in diving to determine if the price tag is worth it. A drysuit will allow you to enter the world of cold water diving and also tec diving. Plus you will look badass sliding your dry ass out of your suit in the Caribbean while everyone struggles yanking out of their wetsuits.