You pick gear the way a hunter chooses a blade. I look at the hunt, not the hype. I choose the armor that will stop the right blows, the sword that will slice the right creature, and the potions that will keep me alive. A designer thinks of the crowd and the drama; I think of the next target and the next storm. The gear is functional, not a fashion statement. If you want to dress for battle, make sure it actually saves you.