Most of the silly comments I have had related to my "ski poles" and usually made not too far from a car park...
At camp often particularly "old timers" will comment about the size of my pack, including remarks about how "small" my 60 L version is...
Common comments are about how my Contrail is not good enough for the situation, from folk that have never slept inside anything like that ( having their 6-8 lbs 4 season tent pitched nearby) including the morning after. Sometimes I wonder how I survive ( and very comfortably...)
The ones that I pass before reaching camp tend not to find my gear too silly.
But I don't see any gear being "best", to me whatever folk use is just another option.
Franco
And I second the comments about WB...