Look - this has become ridiculous, and is precisely what I tire of on this forum - people needlessly arguing (and being unnecessarily condescending...), about inconsequential crap, just because it isn't what they would personally choose, rather than recognizing that there are many ways to get things done. I also use many outdoor items made of "modern materials" and am hardly a hardcore retro guy across the board. Instead, I buy and use functional things that I believe are built the best that they can be and built to last, and ideally built by people who actually care about the products they produce - whether that be a leather and canvas pack, or a syl-nylon tipi. And if it's made domestically, then even better, imo (whether that may be "political" or not...). I have spent a lifetime outdoors, on my own extended trips, and leading others in some very remote places, from Alaska to Patagonia. I have used a huge amount and variety of gear in that time - my choices are based on experience, not nostalgia. And the conclusions I have come to, based on that experience, are that durable and simple are usually the best choice in the long run, over things like obsessing about weight or the latest "innovation."
But all choices have their place and context. A day pack that I'm using for bumming around in the woods? That's not where I'm going to be so hung up on the most modern, lightweight choices, and will instead choose something substantial and durable, like my FR pack. On the other hand, a 7000 cu. in. pack that I'm going to be using on a three-week backcountry trip, and/or potentially packing out an animal? That's where I'll pay more attention to those factors.
You know, it's funny I've heard such similar retorts from other camps, such as compound bow shooters who shake their heads at my bows (even though people have been hunting successfully with 'traditional' bows for far, far longer than their modern counterparts). They even ask ridiculous questions like "you're really going to hunt with that?" or make snap judgements like "you're way more likely to wound an animal with one of those..." Or the notion that traditional slipjoint knives are simply archaic, nostalgia pieces not capable of "serious work" like today's knives are. ....the list goes on. It's amazing we ever got anything done before this wondrous modern age, isn't it? I shudder to think about today's ultra-modern, ultra lightweight outdoorists having to deal with being outdoors in any age before this fortunate era of abundant convenience, complaining about every extra ounce...
I will have to say however, that given your post above, and the many unnecessary jabs it contains ("...vanity luggage," "...adorning some celebrity at Heathrow," "this is a prop for an Indiana Jones reenactment look....") that attempting to take the high ground of "objectivity" seems more than a bit dubious.
