Excellent thread. Lots of good reading/advice/opinion, although it seems to be only the voice of maybe half a dozen individuals!
For me UL has always been the lofty goal, never fully attained, but always sought after. Why carry more than we need, whether it's mountaineering or bikepacking? And 'need' is a concept always to be scrutinized; one can be surprised! Geeking out on gear is fun and in the minimalist way not terribly expensive compared to other sports.
Here's pic of my kid from a 4 day trip this last fall:
