I think part of what makes us collect gear is that (some of us at least) are just larger, older little boys. I've been collecting stuff all my life: action figures, catalogs, stamps, coins, ammo cartridgees, comic books, OOP RPGs, books, CDs, DVDs, etc etc. On some level, survival gear is another "toy" to collect- and by and large males love gadgets (eg my main audio rig contains about $14,000 worth of gear). Since I grew up around guns & outdoor hobbies, some of those toys and gadgets reflect that.

Of course, outdoor and survival gear are "serious toys." I'm well aware that I might someday rely on them to save my life or the lives of others, especially the first aid and medical stuff. The fact that I've spent many a long day using a razor-sharp Akifusa gyuto at work makes me keenly aware of just how much blood there can be from even a minor wound.