for the ladies regarding swim to sports bra?

Yes, you can...I use the tri-top, tri-short combo vs the one piece trisuit (easier for potty stops).  And I second the Moving Comfort Fiona...great sports bra...it's what I wear.

Ditto. Or find a tri-suit that has a built-in sports bra - I have a Zoot that does. Zoot also makes quick-drying sports bras, I believe. (Not a shill for Zoot - just saw them when I was shopping for the tri-suit).

I use a 2 piece tri suit with built in support. It definitely isn't intimidating to wear as the top is like a vest top that covers all the way down to the tri shorts.  OK I admit I don't like my thighs bulging out in the tri shorts so sometimes in the bike run transition I put a running skirt on top.   I know some people wear sports bra's under tri top either for extra support or because many tri tops haven't got built in support. I am lucky(?) enough to have small boobs so don't need extra support.

Tri stuff can get expensive. In my second season my mum bought me the tri suit for my birthday and I still use it 2 years later. 

I had to check twice because you and the OP's names were so similar and post count, too!

Yes, if you're fairly well-endowed, the two-pieces (which you don't want, me neither! ) won't work, nor are the built-in bras on tri suits supportive enough. You'll need to wear a sports bra UNDER the tri suit or your bathing suit during the swim.

Tri suits are the way to go, and you can get them pretty cheap if you look around (ask for suggestions if need be). You can get them one-piece or two-piece with a long top (they're more like tight cycling jerseys). And they can be swum in.