On long distance trips I find that for the first 100 to 200 miles, conversations from fellow fledgling thru-hikers focus a lot on gear (and on getting a 'trail name'). People ask about any interesting looking gear item you have, you comment or ask questions about their stuff, and people collectively scratch their heads about how well their choices will work for anticipated changing conditions or climate ahead.

After that first few weeks, however, people pay very little attention to gear. It's just "stuff", it's in the background. Then when you hike through areas where there are suddenly a lot of shorter distance hikers around, it seems almost weird that they (sometimes) keep talking about gear.

I thus postulate that our general obsession with hiking gear is based on how relatively seldom we're able to use it. And hopefully, with how great the experiences are that we associate with it!