The simple fact is that roughly 98% of the members on here (bearing on mind that approximately 86.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot) don't take full advantage of, or cannot use, the full benefit of the cameras they have, should mean nothing whatever.

If you want another camera - or anything else - you need simply to answer a few basic questions:

- why do I want whatever it is? About the only unacceptable answer is that it is a cover, an excuse, hiding from some other deeper phycological darkness, filling a void.

- will I enjoy using it? What will be better? I know in my case, I will rarely take photos that will impress anyone, but I take great pleasure from taking photos using the cameras (plural) I have that are capable of making spectacular images.

- probably the most important one: will this purchase materially affect me or my family in a negative way? If I spend this money, who suffers?

Good answers = full speed ahead!

Let's face it, if only the absolute most competent were "allowed" to buy top class equipment, almost all manufacturers would be out of business. Manufacturing at scale requires appropriate sales volume to keep sales price acceptable.

Very, very few of us will suddenly produce masterpieces because we bought a new camera.

Listen Up- there is NO Shame in upgrading your camera equipment even if only for GAS! If you want it and you can afford it then go for it. You don't need anyone's permission here to do that. You don't need anyone here setting limits on what you buy or how often you buy or if you should buy. If you have a closet full of unused equipment that is your business.

Will it make you a better photographer? Maybe or maybe not. But it will be fun to find out. New equipment will often push you forward to becoming better by the technical advances. It may help you see improvement which may be the catalyst for more improvement.

Why is it there is honor in using outdated equipment? It is often said here that my (really old) equipment works just fine. Well that's fine for you but don't use it as a measure of why someone else should not buy new.

It use to be fun here seeing members say "The Brown Truck is coming and then it fell out of favor followed by other members denigrating the purchase of new equipment. (yes- I have been on this forum for a long time) Why- why taint new equipment purchase with underlying negative judgement? There are real advances in new cameras now that can achieve results that older cameras can't- ISO improvement, focus, reduced size and weight, focus stacking, interval and video results and many other advances.

So let's not treat our members as children but as thinking adults. We should be responding to the implied question of what did you gain by updating not should I update. And GAS is ok.

Listen Up- there is NO Shame in upgrading your camera equipment even if only for GAS! If you want it and you can afford it then go for it. You don't need anyone's permission here to do that. You don't need anyone here setting limits on what you buy or how often you buy or if you should buy. If you have a closet full of unused equipment that is your business.

Will it make you a better photographer? Maybe or maybe not. But it will be fun to find out. New equipment will often push you forward to becoming better by the technical advances. It may help you see improvement which may be the catalyst for more improvement.

Why is it there is honor in using outdated equipment? It is often said here that my (really old) equipment works just fine. Well that's fine for you but don't use it as a measure of why someone else should not buy new.

It use to be fun here seeing members say "The Brown Truck is coming and then it fell out of favor followed by other members denigrating the purchase of new equipment. (yes- I have been on this forum for a long time) Why- why taint new equipment purchase with underlying negative judgement? There are real advances in new cameras now that can achieve results that older cameras can't- ISO improvement, focus, reduced size and weight, focus stacking, interval and video results and many other advances.

So let's not treat our members as children but as thinking adults. We should be responding to the implied question of what did you gain by updating not should I update. And GAS is ok.

You're right. If you can afford another $3000 camera when you already own a $3000 camera that isn't anywhere near 'old' nor 'outdated', there's no reason to ask strangers on the internet for permission to spend your money on unneeded items. Most $3000 cameras are designed to last 10+ years, if not forever.

But, if you know in your heart you're not making a wise choice given your photography needs and personal financial situation, maybe that fear exhibits itself in needing to ask strangers on the internet what they think about the idea. And some strangers might give a candid response to your question, helping you make your own 'right' decision. Others, of course, will happily spend your money as if their own, their 'right' decision that may / may not apply to you.