I have found over many years of search and rescue that this is a very common phenomenom in the SAR community.

I don't think I've ever been bothered that way about using gear. I do sometimes buy clothes and not wear them in order to keep them pristine, but that's because I don't look after clothes too well and there are rare occasions when I need something smart.

I have the opposite problem in that I am reluctant to buy things which I won't use. It's been a long time since I last bought a torch - nearly 2 years - and there are plenty of nice shiny ones around. But I feel I have all my illumination bases covered so I couldn't use a new one without retiring an old one.