I agree with you to some extent, but experience is all too often a harsh teacher,and the final exam can ofttimes be entirely too brutal. It is often instructive to heed the experiences of others (one of the justifications for this forum) and learn from collective, shared experience. This has definitely worked for me.

You are right on when you say use what is comfortable and familiar to you. Don't buy some nice survivee stuff and put it on the shelf, ready for The Day. If you need to boil water for that nice cup of coffee (or tea), it is much better to use that familiar stove that has come through for you in the past, not some unfamiliar gadget. Use and enjoy) your gear!