I don't use $220 gloves, I was just using that as an example, I never said expensive equipment makes you better.
I do not wear expensive equipment aside from my 8090 skates and my Eagle X70 gloves. Almost everything else is low end stuff like my 652 helmet, cheapo low end shoulder pads, cheapo low end elbow pads, etc. Infact, I prefer most low end shoulder pads, elbow pads, etc. over expensive ones because low end ones tend to be less bulky and still offering decent protection. I have used wooden sticks for the past 10 years up until recently when I decided to spend 95 bucks on a Mission M2 shaft and using the same blade pattern, lie, etc. that I used with wooden sticks I find it's a little tougher to stick handle because I don't really have a good feel for the puck like I do when I use woodies.