A guy at the Denver REI in 2019 saw my duct tape patch and asked one question that stuck with me
He pointed at the torn shoulder strap on my 12 year old pack and said "did you buy that to last or to be seen?" then walked off before I could answer. Ten minutes later I watched him sell a different customer a $340 pack by asking what trips they actually had planned. Made me rethink half the gear posts I see here.