wetsuits?

They're also cut to accomodate the swim stroke (head held higher, arm movement, etc). I've seen all kinds of things at races though.

Swim in it.
Rent a tri wetsuit and swim in it.
Answer your own question

There will be a substantial difference in a swim specific wetsuit and one made for surfing/scuba.

the question is- is it worth $200 to ya'.  (although I got a pretty decent Orca on closeout for $127)

Depends on how committed you want to be to triathlon and if you have a spare $100 or $200 ...

The difference between surfing wetsuits and triathlon wetsuits is huge.

I am in them iddle of recovery from a shoulder I tore swimming in a sprint back in June, so anything that is going to make swimming easier is definitely worth it. I have spent the summer running and biking, Thurs I get to get back in the pool.

Would you run your 5k in tennis shoes? Of course not. Same concept.

If you are committed to the sport and want to spend the cash on a wetsuit and live/race in a climate that allows a few WS legal events a year, sell the BG suit on ebay, and buy yourself a tri-wetsuit. Also a good time of year to pick up a cheap "gently used" wetsuit from the rental places. A lot of people score really good deals around now if your budget can't take the full wetsuit hit.

I live in Soo, MI, so most of my open water training is in Lake Superior or the St Mary's River. Most of the tri's I do are in warmer climates where, with very few exceptions, suits are not allowed. So mainly I use my suit for training swims.

Good point with the tennis shoe comparision as I just made my wife buy a pair of running shoes instead of using her daily shoes for running in.

Just my personal experience...

My first wetsuit was a O'Neill suit that WAS a triathlon specific suit.  That being said, O'Neill isn't in the business of making tri wetsuits and I believe they don't make them anymore.  The first time I moved into a tri specific suit (Xterra) I was shocked by how much better it felt.  It was easier to move in, more comfortable and didn't ride so high on my neck.

As others have said, if you are committed to the sport I say buy a tri suit.  Make sure you get one that fits correctly though.  Take your time getting the fit right - it will be worth it.

Good luck!

Drew