I feel so soap-boxy lately, maybe because I’m teaching a class, but here’s another kernel of truth I’ll throw at y’all about communities:
If you are trying to get new people,especially diverse people and young people into your hobby, and your first reaction is to show off your really expensive kit and say how much it cost, you are gatekeeping mega mode, even if you’re just trying to share your interest. Nobody wants to hear there is a $1500 (or $5000) barrier to entry to their new hobby. It’s demoralizing, not educational, and they’re just gonna leave.
Happens in bicycles, drones, photography, astronomy, gaming, marksmanship… you name it, there’s a rich older white dude ready to show off his six grand investment in a hobby to a college student with a three digit bank account.
@hacks4pancakes I distinctly remember drooling over Titanium "Lightspeed" bikes in the bike magazines as a teenager. I could barely afford the magazines themselves. There's a balance here. New people need to know there are lots of ways to enjoy the hobby with very little money, but some people are actually inspired by the "cool factor" of seeing "some day" stuff. There are also opportunities for those people to actually share those big stations.