Indeed.
I enjoy this as a hobby (hope to start generating some $$ off it, but not much yet)...and I have disposable income, at least so far.
I have some film cameras that I VERY much enjoy. I have the 5D3...was my very first DSLR...and I bought it for video primarily.
But now I'm very much into stills. I'm enjoying shooting old
medium format cameras (Hassy V Series), etc....I'm not the type of person to buy piddly crap all the time, I tend to save my $$ for large purchases. I save and I buy the best I can for whatever I want....cameras included.
I'm saving for the R5. I do shoot concerts (when they start again)...and I do enjoy creating with it, with different aspects of digital photography...macro, focus stacking....composite imaging, etc.
I don't buy cameras or cars or really anything to 'brag' about...I research what I want and buy the best I can afford for that particular tool.
Over the years I have amassed a great deal of equipment...much of it is $$....but I saved and bought.
I almost NEVER buy anything I cannot pay right then and there with cash....I do, however, put that cash in savings if I have a X Months no interest financing thing. and I do pay that way...but again, I have the cash to back it up....I do not go into CC debt for things like this.
So, yes...some people can afford bit more than others. That's just the way of the world. There are TONs of people I now with vastly greater amounts of disposable income, but it doesn't bother me. It should bother anyone.
Just do what you can, do what makes YOU happy, and live and let live.
I don't know what the "sickening" comment that person made was all about either.
C