I am a noob to potential touring, but not to biking. I have loved it my whole life,it just seems like touring can't ever fit into my schedule and life. When I was younger and had the time and body, I didn't have the vacation days/job to support it or money to buy the stuff. Now that I am older, I have the money to buy stuff and my kids are just starting to get older and be able to live without me(so a weekend, they show zero interest in biking with me, nor does my hubby) and my job does not support vacation days(I work from home as a childcare provider, my job is availability!!)
So while I have always dabbled in biking and had several nice bikes, I haven't had the ability to try touring. But that is changing I bought my first road/tourer bike(Salsa Casseroll) and a few bags for supplies. I still need a 1 person tent(I think Menards has some for like $30?!) and figure I should be able to carry stuff I need and buy at gas stations what I don't/can't.
I don't hold any illusions of a thousand mile Alaskan adventure on my Pugsley(a great bike, but see above reasons) and I'll be fine just dabbling in weekend excursions for a few years at 100-200 miles or so. Luckily, we have quite a few lake rec areas around here with decent camping and gravel roads or paved to get there.
I do think sometimes people get in over their heads with a grand adventure, which sounds all romantic and wonderful until you get to the reality of doing the mileage and time. If you didn't like camping before when you drove, why would you find camping after a full day of bike riding any different? And I think accepting that maybe the touring is for you but you like hotels and pools and little bottles of shampoo are for you at the end of the day, then just bike the bike and CC tour yourself to the next Holiday Inn. Ain't no shame in it.