Tam
"but when people choose a heavier piece of gear that is similarly priced, and equally useful baffles me."


"equally useful" is whats evading you. The UL equivalent of a heavier piece of gear may not be equally useful. If you are on an easy does it trip in easy terrain your UL gear may be adequate, but a lot of places that gear would be shredded and not function at all, or it may simply not be adequate for the user to complete the trip they went out to enjoy. I always say - take the lightest gear that allows you to do what ya come for. This "lighter is always better concept" is based on lack of experience.
Jim