Good point. I'll keep it in mind as I try to put something together on clothing and gear.

One other frequent beginner perspective is that they don't know, when they begin, if they're going to stay with this pastime. As a result, cost is more of a consideration with a beginner (usually) than with someone who's already decided they really like backpacking. That's something else I'll keep in mind: they're probably not ready to sink a ton into 850-fill down jackets, but they need to be cautioned that a $5 fleece from Dollar General may not get them through a blizzard.