I am a member of a bike club with 500 members. Many of these people have high-end equipment, shoes, etc., and some do not. It doesn't matter at all to any of us. Your riding speaks for itself, regardless of how much you have spent on stuff.
Another point which comes up during these threads about money is the relationship (perceived) of money vs performance. For many people the performance gains aren't the reason they buy something. Some of us buy something (bike, car, shoes, etc.) because we like it and we want it, not because we think it will make us faster.
I'm a car mechanic by trade and I have built up bikes and serviced bikes for decades. It's not romantic and holds no appeal to me. These days I rarely even clean my bikes and would just as soon pay someone to do certain things.