Excellent points, Matt. We see the same problem in the world of armed self-defense. People focus all their energy on possessing the "best" hardware, and forget about the software. The priority chain for general survival is the same as for armed self-defense, IMO:

1. Mindset (willingness to deal w/ the situation)
2. Tactics (knowing what to do in the situation)
3. Skills (being able to carry out your tactics)
4. Equipment (tools that enhance carrying out your tactics)