Expensive gear = Better athlete?

Was at a dinner with a bunch of hardcore triatheletes last sunday. Conversation was expectedly about multi-sports, event/ training stories and 2girls1cup.

No offence but I felt that some stupid statements were made:

1. Expensive gears make better sportspeople
True enough, a pair of branded shoes beats a pair of Batas anytime for running. Better technology helps to prevent unecessary injuries and make training more enjoyable. Dri-fit attire allows for cooler exercise time and I swear by them now. I used to jog only in SAF PT kit and SAF-issues NB shoes. They were ok but I didnt like to exercise in them too often but one thing for sure, they are still good enough to help you complete a long distance race.
Expensive or branded gears to me are seriously not paramount to better results. They are simply aids to help me exercise safely and enjoyably.
It's like equipping a layman with a high end PC loaded with sophisticated programs and an engineer with just a scale rule, pencils and paper. End up, the layman will just be playing games with the PC while the engineer will still be able to churn out blueprints for a nuclear station.

2. I will be better if I train like the elites.
Don't think so. We all have different physical attributes and no 2 caps fit the same. Knowing our bodies well is important in order not to push it too hard too fast. Depending on our physical abilities, we should train appropriately and push our own limits one step at a time. My reason for not attempting the full marathon this year was because I was confident of my own body yet at the time of signing up. Also, I didn't want to struggle through 42km in 6-7 hours. I won't be jumping into a high mileage training program suggested by a seasoned athlete for sure. I shall heap on the mileage bit by bit at my own pace. All the races will be my own race after all. Maintain a strict discipline and all will fall into place for sure.

Race your own race and train at your own pace. Of course it's not wrong to dream. First HIM by 2009, I will like to make that a reality, at my own pace of course.