Perhaps one of the big fly fishing equipment manufactures should market a lign of "pre-distressed" fly fishing gear. It has certainly worked in the blue jean market. The distressed varieties of denim sell for the same price or more and are quite the marketing hit. Maybe we could get a list of volunteers that would function as distressors. Since I am fairly clumsy and can easily tear a pair of waders (thus facilitating the patches described several times in this thread), I will volunteer myself.

If the manufacturers would offer a line of equipment like this, then none of us would have to worry about the physical appearance of elitism. We could just be judged by our words and actions.

Regards,
Keith