Do yourself a favour one day when you want a laugh. Go down to a golf course and watch people hit their ball off the first tee. You will see the flashy guys come on $5000 gear slick like camel poo. They dribble their ball down the fairway or slice it into the rough. The you watch the old guys come on, damn near have a bottle strapped to their cane. Belt it smack down the middle and hole it for regulation, while the slick as camel poo is still slashing away in the grass.
Well diving can mainly be the same. As long as its quite serviceable and looks ok, never feel ashamed. Just because someone has a $700 secondary reg doesn't mean anything more to me than that they have money to burn. On the other hand, if you come down with a torn BCD, regulators all damaged and leaking air, well then go home as you are not being professional and people depending on you will be thinking if their gear is so bad, how well will they treat me and how good are they.
Keep your gear serviceable and looking neat. That sets the atmosphere for you looking like you care and will look after them too. A flashy computer that the owner doesn't know how to drive isn't much good, and tables and a SPG will provide better service to someone who knows how to use them.
Know your job, keep your gear neat and clean and in good working order and be professional. That matters more to most, and for those who look down their nose at you, well they always were spoilt wankers anyway and they don't matter. Be professional in your mind and what you do, then in your heart you know you are ok.
I have a mix of gear, mostly oceanic and some very basic gear, but why go spend $600 when what I have works well and I have no issue with it. My wing isn't the $1000 variety, but its neat, works and is reliable. One of my deco regs is a Sherwood, works fine. Usually when I buy gear I try and buy mid to upper range but to date have never bought top of the range as I always figure that companies always make an overpriced item for those who have money falling from their pockets. There are exceptions however but for the average Joe Blow, mid range is just fine.
I once saw a guy who forgot his fins, used 2 planks from a fence tied to his feet and finned better than any of us. Good tools help but they never make up for ability. Develop your ability, it means more and that will impress most people and earn respect.
You are 19, go dive and have fun, when you are 55 near retirement, no kids now, mortgage paid off, then go buy the gold plated gear so you can hang it up over the fire place and tell your grand kids how grandpa dived. Till then just go dive and have fun with what you can afford that's safe and servicable.