Thus forums have become a place for people to beat their chests such that he who has spent the most is chief among us.
This has never and will never be the case. The guy who buys massive amounts of expensive equipment but cannot make top-notch photos has no stature whatsoever compared to the people making beautiful shots.
Brands need people to be emotional about them in the face of what they and their customers really need after all.
I disagree again. There is no need for this kind of chest-thumping. People buy systems to get work done or to enjoy their hobby, end of story. I see emotions about equipment as being similar to religion, it is a very personal thing, and going public with it is highly inappropriate. Chatting about appreciation of equipment is fine, but there is a fat line in the sand between that and proselytizing.
And unless photographers see each others as brothers (picture all of us locked arm in arm singing) then there is going to be ruffled feathers because we don't all own the same things largely because of financial differences.
I disagree yet again. Ultimately even the most expensive equipment is not above almost all of our reach, if we prioritize that way. Photo equipment just isn't that expensive. I realized yesterday that I could buy a H3DII-50 for 500/month for 3 years. Not exactly hardship, if I prioritize that way. Of course, most of us don't want to prioritize that way, but it isn't because we can't.
Who among us would not have at least one 1Ds Mark III or Nikon D3x, with a Phase p65+ or H4D-60 and a Leica M9 in our bag? Three cameras for every need.
Most of us on this forum, I bet. Having too much equipment is like too much bread and not enough butter, it dilutes our creativity. I deliberately chose to have only Leica M and MF, skipping the A900 I was lusting for, precisely because I don't want to be in a situation of choosing between systems for any given project. Look at others too. Guy is always trying to find the system which does everything he needs. 1 system. Jack also uses only MF, I think, or perhaps there is a second camera there somewhere. And so on. A few collect more, but interestingly, they also post less photos. Too much equipment dilutes you.
It used to be that a man could afford his tools. I think it is fair to say that this is not the case for the photographic industry currently. All the skill and eye and whatever in the world does not earn one a p65+ when you just bought a P30+ two years ago now does it?
The upgrade price is within reach, if the need is there. I would say that if the need is there, the income to manage the payments would also be there. I think that fiscal conservatism is more likely behind the decision not to upgrade than any actual barrier.