But without good gear and equipment you just limit yourself to having crap tires that let loose long before a better, softer rubber compound would.

I ride everywhere in my area and have done all the trails, even some of the more famous trails in my area that are amazing and I have never had a tire fail or let loose on me. Softer rubber just means it will be sticky and wear down way faster. I choose to not get the softest rubber because I sometimes ride on the road and dont want to dissolve my tires after a couple days of doing some on pavement riding for errands and shit.

You will never be faster on crap gear.... Sure you can give your bike to a better rider and he or she will ride it way better than you.

Falling back on that gear is everything logic again. Gear only works as well as the person riding on it. I mean everything has its limits and buying the absolutely cheapest everything will result in some bad times because you skimped out hard on a lot of stuff. Im speaking specifically about tires here though. Not any other part of the bike. My bike has a nice wheelset in it and nice everything else. on it. I just dont see the value in going out and buying the MOST expensive tire out there that has never ever given me any better performance than the less expensive tires do.

Once you get there you will understand..

This has to be the most patronizing shit I have ever read on this sub. Your "im better because i use expensive stuff" attitude is immature and shortsighted.