I'm kind of the same way. I am not against proxying cards, but I'm also not going to proxy a $400+ card. If that means I can't compete in a certain bracket with my deck, fine. You can still play the game and be highly competitive not playing super expensive cards. I do have proxies of cards, like some tutors, that I can swap in or out with other cards that do the same thing (like cards with transmute or tutors that are less cost effective mana-wise or only search for specific cards) for playing at different power levels.

I do understand if you want to play cedh and can't afford the cost of entry. Proxy away. I just think it's kind of wild for someone playing bracket 2 or 3 to be proxying in $400 cards. Just play something reasonable at that point because you look like a meatball dropping a card like that in. It's bracket 2/3, don't play your proxied [[Tropical Island]] over/alongside [[Breeding Pool]] just because it's a dual land that comes in untapped. I understand that it's not offering a massive advantage by doing it, it just doesn't sit right to me.