We absolutely make it more complicated. I'm totally guilty of it.

I think bicycling as a hobby is a taste that evolves. If you like playing basketball, you need some shoes and a ball. Cycling has more room. Do you want a cruiser, a dutchie, a hybrid, some variety of drop bar bikes, some variety of mtb? There can be legit differences between them(and more overlap than people generally believe, imo), so different tastes will mean a different bike.

Just buy the absolute cheapest bike you'll ride every day. Lock. Lights. You'll figure out what else you, personally, feel is a 'need'. And since you didn't blow all your money on a bike, you'll have money to get it.

Maybe you're a fair weather 3 mile bike path commuter with a safe workplace and no fear of theft, and that's all the riding you do. Your choices are likely different than the guy who wants something to do 30 mile commutes with groceries who showers before they clock in, which are different than the roadie getting extra miles in.