RE: how much money do we waste
First of all, I don't consider spending money on the #1 thing I like the most, to be a waste of money. Over the years I've spent very little on stuff that I didn't need. Actually, I went for years with less than I needed because of financial reasons. Now that money isn't a worry for me any more, I still hunt with just the basics......11 year old bow, aluminum arrows, Great Ultimate Camo!, $20 binos and a 15 year old grunt call. I did buy 4 LW Alpha hang-ons, but I don't consider my safety to be wasteful.