It's a fantastic idea, I wish you the best. My own reaction was similar, however --- Lightheart designs tent, not there, nor tarptent models. ULA packs -- not there. WM sleeping bags were there but not the model I most typically carry and my bags are now overstuffed anyway.

I hope that you do get the database up to a sort of tipping point, a critical mass level where more and more folks will find it compelling.

I have to wonder why you want people to "join" --- do you have hopes to monetize this in some way down the road, and in general what are you doing with the information? There's certainly no need to do this if it's strictly a .org type of effort (rather than a .com) ?
To be clear, I'm not suggesting that a profit motive is bad (!), I'd just prefer to see that made clear up-front if so.