Photography has become a wasteland about gear discussion

Am I the only one who feels this ?

I appreciate any hobby or interest that requires gear to undertake that interest will always have some discussion around gear but with photography it seems to be the over riding discussion point.

It's also seems to be getting worse because not only do we have people constantly arguing over the latest and greatest but now we also have the retro nostalgia crew coming in hot.

Last night I saw a YT vid of some new digi cam that is designed to replicate the "experience" of using a disposable film cam.

The video it's self didn't hold any surprises but the comments section did , it was full of very excited people that can't wait to shoot this camera and it got me scratching me my head.

This was a camera designed to replicate an "experience" that was actually never an experience at all.

The whole point of a disposable was that you were able to capture an "experience" and was a just tool you never thought about. the experience wasn't using the camera at all and back in the day I never once thought about it like this.

We can a step further with a nameless brand that produces expensive range finders. How many times have you seen the price justification because it's about the "process" or the "experience" about using the tool rather than really about the images they create. This can be seen between the difference in the two subs that the brand has. One is about gear and is inundated with posts of the cameras sat on coffee tables and the other for sharing photos taken with the gear is pretty dead.

I am missing something here ?

If you talked to a hiker about a recent trip , would the conversation be centered around the hike or the boots and backpack they used ?

You can go in any number of camera brand subs and they are almost dominated by gear pics or cameras and lens' in retail boxes which see masive amounts of upvotes.

Tell an avid snapper you are also into photography but use a phone and they will throw thier head back in disgust and tell you what your phone can't capture and proceed to show you you the most dull photos you have ever seen.

Does anyone one else find it all rather odd ?