It seems like there was a misunderstanding here. You clearly have spent time reading up. You have transportation for your gear figured out. You know your options. You're going into this prepared.

Now, the event gets a fair amount of people who don't do any of this. In particular, there are always a few people who think that they can just bicycle or hitchhike in with a backpack and figure it out from there. These people invariably become leeches, ignoring the principle of radical self-reliance that is key to the Burning Man ethos and dooming themselves to a horrible experience because they are flinging themselves into a harsh desert environment without preparation.

Your initial post was pretty sparse on details, so it looked a lot like you had that kind of a plan. If you got nasty PMs, then I'm sorry that some folks didn't give you the benefit of the doubt. They should have asked questions before jumping to conclusions. It's a really sensitive issue for many, because while these people are rare, most of us have had to deal with them at some point and they really, really suck. In 2010, I ended up with some guy screaming at me who almost poured whiskey all over my head because I wouldn't let him set up his tent in our theme camp, where he knew no one and had not contributed in any way.

I'm sorry that your interaction with the Burner community here was negative, as we try not to be too crusty. As the event draws nearer and stress levels rise, though, people are more likely to be snappy. I hope that this doesn't affect your experience at Burning Man and please feel free to come by the Retro Shack sometime for a cocktail. I'd love to toast your first Burn.