I could care less except when people run gear down that others are using , or the way they fish.
I've run #20 gnats with 2weight rods on tiny streams, trolled big white polar bear streamers for lakers with a 10 weight, chucked and ducked massive steamers and weighted nymphs for giant jacks, fished custom steamers for walleye, fished for roosterfish and Dorado in Mexico and quite often the same day used gear ranging from light spinning to heavy bait caster and trolling reals.
Who cares as long as you are having fun, be it with a cheap fiberglass CT 8weight , Top shelf custom shop ordered graphite, or an Ambassador 6000 and a medium weight bait caster, and yoou treat the fish with respect, follow the regulations and leave the water the way you found it.
Cat