These forums are heavily populated with collectors not photographers. On some sites, they post more photos of their camera and BOXES, than actual photos. I think most of those statements have to do with gear or tech issues than actual images.
Ah yes, I never understood the photos of the boxes the new lens came in that appear on some one-make photo forums. There's also videos of 'unboxing'.
Got a new piece of kit - go out and use it, then tell us what you think.
You have it all wrong. Its all about the self image of the gear and photographer. NOT about what the equipment, OR photographer can do with equipment...
Its like this. Look at the photos shown on teh LOMO news magazine webpage. Of people THEY think are great and wonderful photographers due to these people espousing the philosophy of "lomography'...
Those photos, those great examples of lomography, are blurry crap that are out of focus that they could be a photo of a rabbit running on a tread mill, or the star ship enterprise in a snow storm. DEFECTS in those great photos,,,, are things that actual photographers leave on the cutting room floor and strive to avoid...