The only thing I disagree with here is the safety toed boots. I've gotten in more trouble with them than without them, they have a tendency to get wedged while climbing, and in my dairy farming days I never had a 1200 pound Holstein step on the toe part, always behind it, then you're stuck there with a cow standing on top of your foot and can't just pull your foot out.
I started tree care at a good time, ppe was encouraged, but there were enough old timers around still who could show you the more efficient way of going about a task. Things at the company I used to work for before striking out on my own have gotten out of control apparently, just about all of the fellas I worked with have jumped ship and moved on.
All of that to say that while I think ppe isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can be when taken too far.