I'm with you P...Just look at all those guys riding bicycles in the road with the cars...Spandex pants..Tour De France helmet...special million dollar shoes...on and on and on...No bicyclist seems to want to be caught dead wearing any other "uniform" when out in public...Same with fishermen..it is a uniform to be seen in...gotta have certain brands to show off...That's ok though since it builds self esteem and makes the sport fun. Lot's of toys is the rule....I used to catch more fish with my yellow Eagle Claw rods and hand crank downrigger than I do now with my custom rods and G Loomis....but I used to run the 100 in 10 flat too.