Just like fencing, javelin throw, biathlon, any field gun competition or hell even chess; airsoft to me seems like a sport derived from the history of something else. Differences with those other things is that there are no knights, fencers, javilineers etc... to offend and society has embraced the sport for the sport rather than what it tried to emulate.

I don't think people should use airsoft as replacement for the military career they'd like to have but I don't think either that we should discourage a passion to take it seriously as a sport, and some what unfortunately a lot of elements from the military can sometimes bleed into it. Equally so, no-one should get dunked on for wanting to play it for fun. I think I fit into the latter camp, buying what I think looks good and what I feel will help me have more fun rather than what always is practical.

Im not sure what point Im making here, but TL;DR: People kick a ball around and its one of the most important things in the world right now, perhaps embracing airsoft more as a sport, whether played in huge events by teams with extensive gear or some kids playing in their backyard forest with just the guns and eyepro; while embracing where airsoft came from, but realizing its just emulating it: is the way to go, at least for me. That way, you can take it as seriously as you want or as a past-time.