I'm not afraid to admit that I love showing off something I designed that I think is cool. But when it just looks like I'm showing off what I paid for, that is no longer cool. Unless I added some real value that can help others, it becomes a statement of wallet size and nothing more.
'Showing off' would be just dropping repeated bragging post with no context or follow-up.
Personally I've never seen that from this thread (which I very much enjoy following). It's a modern hobby story and for a small niche group of people, it's a lot of fun to watch unfold.
But, nothing is really different vs. 20-30 years ago and hobbies of that time, except the internet and reach (which for niche hobbies, is a very good thing). There were always critics and jealous commentary, even before the internet. OK, I guess that's their right, and they feel they have something to contribute from that. F-them.
I perceive each update (you post), or sharing of new things, with an excitement you might share amongst friends with similar interests. We are not 'friends' in the usual sense, but we are in 2022 and the definition of friends has changed. If we cannot celebrate some fun things with those that share our interests, then life would be pretty boring and far too practical.
And let's be honest, our hobby is not so popular compared to others. But it's our hobby. Every hobby has inside/outside critics.
You always share a dialogue that follows with information that many people appreciate. Lessons learned, advice needed, just the same as people would do in a local club dedicated to any hobby, but it happens to be in a forum.
I for one really enjoy your adventures. You are not an investigative journalist held to standards of 'truth' vs opinion. You are sharing your passion, and there are a lot of people that enjoy watching and learning what you share.