You got it right mikeray. There are people in this "hobby" who are professional detectorists. Sporting an array of the most expensive detectors, saying what is "best of the best", etc. As long as I have detected (12 years), I don't consider myself in the professional crowd. I purchase what I feel I want to invest, in a hobby that gives me more fun, than it does a return on investment. If people want to invest thousands in the field, so be it. I hope they get their thousands back ten fold. But for me, it's not about whats best or deepest, it's about the pleasure I get just finding dimes and nickels, and the occasional prize worth a little more (rings, etc).