It' s all about getting to know your equipment and practicing. I know people that can make some amazing shots with a 55# recurve bow and no sights. I personally just bought a new bow, but you are 100% correct - equipment does not make the archer.

I think anybody that would look down on you because of your " old" setup is an amateur. You are describing the same kind of people that go out and spend $1500 on a new .300 Ultraearsplittenloudenboomer and cannot even hit a barn from the inside. Yet, they talk about how said rifle will allow them to kill an elk at 500 yards. Meanwhile I' ll continue to bust clay pigeons out to 400 yards with my cheap Savage rifle in .270 Winchester.