I'm disappointed when I read threads like this as it makes touring so much more complicated than it needs to be, I wish more people were strapping some plastic bags to the back of the 10speed racer like we did back in the 1970's rather than looking to increase wheelbase and add airline compliant cases.
Well two things:
1) nothing is simple any more. We have an 18 page ultralite thread gurgling along. Been there done that, not reading it, but I am sure the hair splitting is just as massive as here. Now they may be on a better path, almost certainly are. But to pretend anything is simple or ideal just isn't the way it is. I remember back in the 70s we used to buy kits and make our own gear. That sure kept the crowds down.
2) identity wise, some folks want to be the dudes that got there with six pounds on the rack, and other guys want to be the guys who did it with 160 pounds. Nobody wants to be mister sensible in-between. Where is the T-shirt in that? Same reason nobody sells bikes. They all have to be extreme MTBs, BMX, Cross, Tri, etc...