I've been thinking about how one could make a hybrid QDV... and I think this design will work, at least for low mixes. The spring will hamper the valve opening speed somewhat, but I don't think it will be much of an issue if the spring is for low mixes only, as it will only have to hold back a few pounds of force before firing, when the pressure should increase enough that it slides back cleanly.
No, as I attempted to show in the picture, the two o-rings and the pipes they seal against are NOT of the same diameter.
Good idea with an air spring... I could pressurize the area behind the piston precisely to work for different mixes... that could allow me to access higher mixes.