You would be surprised how many people buy something just because someone tells them it will really make them a better cyclist because of such said schlock that they are selling. Lets take clipless pedals and shoes for example. My good friend was buying a new bike, and you should have seen how much crap this store was trying to sell to him, the scary part is that these people are so persistent that he ended up wasting his money on clipless pedals and shoes, and all the other crap to go with it, (I think he ended up spending like $500 just on the accessories he broke down and bought, though if he would have bought everything they told him he "needed" it probably would have been in the same neighborhood as what he spent on the bike itself! So many people want to call themselves experts yet really don't know jack, and there is always someone with the money to buy this crap.
Don't get me wrong though. I believe a guy should have his pump, repair kit and the necessities but I have always been kind of "anti-gimmick" and buy even my regular clothes second hand, but nicer ones than I could afford if I bought new. On $20 I can get like 2 italian dress shirts two pairs of brand name dress pants or jeans and they are like new, so I guess it all boils down to perception.
Some people buy things just because they can, or they think they are getting a deal, whilst people like myself even when Buying something cheap, still feel they could've got it cheaper or have a hard time deciding whether to buy it or not. Either way to each his own, I will just keep using the same getup that has worked for me for the last 10-15 years and I will get that good feeling inside as I ride by someone who has just spent like 200-300 dollars on their winter wear and I can see that they are not nearly as comfortable as I am in my LowBudgetOutfit. That is what makes it all worthwhile.