Over the course of my career, I've noticed a trend in many fields of study: Novices, hangers-on, dabblers, and other folks tend to buy mid-to-high-end gear, thinking they'll "grow into it", but in reality, secretly hoping the gear will do the work for them.
Whereas the truly skilled are often the folks with lower-end equipment, but who can do some absolutely amazing stuff with it.
I've seen it in cyber. I've seen it in photography. I've seen it in woodworking. I've seen it in firearms. I've seen it in vehicles. And on, and on.
-WiscoDave
