Question re: BCD, regulator, weights

I need some recommendations for equipment that I hope to buy in the
near future for warm water diving. Excuse my newbie terminology.

The BCD's with the pockets for weights "appear" to be easier to deal
with than weight belts which I find to be a pain. I get the impression
though, that you'd have to transport the weights to your diving
location or do many places have weighted bags you can use?

I am also interested in having the BCD include the octopus integrated
into the BCD (on one's left side) instead of the typical right-side
"dangling" octopus. Is there any downside to this type of octo and do
you need to buy a specific type of BCD to include the integrated
octopus or can you retrofit any BCD to become integrated with an
octopus?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Sy

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