I have enough reels , rods, line, nets ( loads of nets as I make them , traditional cane , I rebuild all my own rods, make my own floats , sinkers, feeders, bank sticks, etc etc ) bags, waders,clothes, brollies, etc.... I dont ever bother with Carp or Matches or Commercials , so dont need a keepnet, and am not a tackle tart, I have almost given up "updating " my gear. entireley .. I dont care what people think about it, I dont crave the latest gadgets, rods, reels etc. My gear, although dated compared to most other anglers on the bank catches me fish as well or better than anything else I could buy. Thinking about it, about a third of my gear must be second hand anyway, or if you prefer "preloved"
A bit boring really as I do like browsing around tackle shops, but really dont ever buy anything except a bit of bait now and then, all I use are Hali Pellets, everything else comes from the supermarket, the animal feed suppliers or the lawn.
So although in my case cash is not an issue, I dont really spend much at all on gear , nor have done for a few years now. It doesnt generally seem to stop me catching as many fish as the next angler, so basically I have proved to myself that a lot of gear these days is designed to catch the angler first and foremost .
Also , I am a Yorkshireman, I have been described in the past as being similar to a Scotsman with his streak of generosity removed .
David.