I was busting my ass in USPSA... Practicing, watching videos, improving the mechanics of my pistols, buying better holsters, pouches, ammo, etc... This is when I started shooting last year, and I was a lowly c class limited shooter... And I thought, how can I become a "competitive" shooter?? And it's actually really easy... I started shooting IDPA... and I've won my class in the last six consecutive major matches I've been in. Boom, proof is in the pudding. :-)
Seriously though, if people wanna try and purchase their skill VIA a high end, hand built pistol, they can't be convinced otherwise... I've seen RIA's take down Wilson Combats in single stack and CDP.... Glocks have legitimately smashed past SVI's in front of my own eyes.... That being said, a shooter is a shooter... And enjoying something for what it is, and realizing that you don't get the trophy, is ok. It's still the most fun sport I've ever participated in. Just my $0.02