I have been backpacking since 1959 and I cannot once remember the old guard community jumping on each other. Products from Kelty, Stephenson, Sierra Designs, Dolt, Gerry, Early Winters, and many more are still working for me and some of them will even call you back or email you if you need some help (I got a call back on a "just visiting" message I left at Stephenson's, their sleeping bag made for me is now 50 years old and apart from some delamination of the reflective coating is a top notch performer - it even has a removable pad and two tops). I used a Sierra Designs tent for over 20 years and a Stephenson tent for that long or longer. I read that folks will accept a Cuben tent, pack or stuff sack only lasting six months and will pay huge bucks with no complaint. I still use my Kelty B4 pack in classic red, only failure is a critter ate a hole in the bottom compartment. I carry the same MSR XGK and Sigg pots I have had forever. I am down to two full treasured Hand Roberts/Gerry/EFI canisters and that stove operates as a regulated burner (one the snow!). I will soon buy it one of the $30 adapters to run the $1 butane canisters or MSR gas cans. Someone stole my Optimus 8R that I bought in 1968 - no one will steal my BRS3000, brass and steel are more attractive than titanium. In later years I bought from the new guys; North Face, MSR, Chouinard (later Patagonia), Marmot, Nalgene, Katadyne, and many more but I cannot remember one ever saying nasty stuff.
My suggestion, give your ultra light gear the real test, come camping with me in 50 years (I will be 121) and only bring what you own today (you can cheat and bring new boots though I have cross county Merrells that I bought in the very early 70's and still use). I bet you end up sleeping in my then 70 year old Marmot tent and eating out of my 100 year old Sigg pots (I have four - they nest and the big two feed an army and make lots of water from snow - the XGK boils water in two minutes or so on white gas). I may even let you drink from a 121 year old stainless steel Sierra cup and use my Army surplus steel spoon. Bet your $175 Neolite will not hold air but we can share my 1970's Early Winters EVA foam pad, it has hosted three butts for dinner more than once.
This is not intended to be snarky (where do these words come from) but wish to add to your joy, it is not about the gear, being a triple crown hiker, having a better base weight than you best friend, or worrying about someone stealing your ideas. It is about the outdoors and having time in nature, experiencing what was prepared for you long before you knew you were a you. Read about some of the folks who went before you in this grand adventure. Are you going to be able to mix your passion with your career? Here is a snip from Rick Ridgeway (you know - the guy who climbed K2 and roped with Yvon) “Make the best product, and make it with no unnecessary harm.” !
Look for me in the food isles of the local market trying to buy 3500+ calories of cold soak food for less than $3! I am the old guy with gray hair wearing hand made to order strap sandals bought 40+ years ago at Mule Days in Bishop that Teva copied (but who cared), with a saggy butt pair of old StandUp shorts that everyone copied, and a Patagonia red/orange coat that you can see through it is so threadbare (worth three times what I paid for it on eBay). On top of my truck (I bought the racks in 1968) you may see a Tom Johnson Bronco WW kayak, a Joseph Sedivec Seda sea kayak, and a "first year of issue" Windsurfer.
May your cell phone always have power, you cell signal be strong, your Squeeze filter not freeze, you pad not leak, your Guthook app never crash, your Cuben fiber last the full year of the warranty, your bear can actually keep out bears, your reflective guy lines glow in the dark, and your hammock not let you down!
Bob Jarrard