[@MafiaM16]

I feel like you would be skipping out on a big part of character development. Your gear is just an extension of your character and scoring that special piece of plate mail or that enchanted sword, you can write about how that growth would feel. Similarly, your gear can give your character his/her strengths or provide weaknesses that your character has to overcome. It is fun, I think at least. Improvising when you don't have the necessary equipment, either. 

If you forgo that progression, I feel like you miss out on a lot. Not only that, but it tilts the favor in our side when someone is well armored and armed like that.