Good thread. I tended to think that the "real" equipment probably had merit early in the game and just waited until my wife decided I could afford it to buy in. Actually, we waited to see if I was actually going to cycle a serious enough number of miles on a consistent basis.

Now I tend to look for the higher end goods on sale at lower end pricing and buy on impulse. I just need to get better at pulling the unused stuff out of the drawers and closets.