You're spot on Smithy! I used to freak out if I wore my Eastman and it started raining. This forum has changed my attitude and now I do all kinds of work in my jacket, trying to make it look more used (it's already timeworn), it's definitely a liberating feeling. My original though I treat with more respect, don't need it to look any more worn than it is anyways...
The problem for most with the hyper expensive repros is that a lot of people are terrified of anything happening to them (not really surprising when you've spent an arm and a leg on the thing) and as a consequence the jackets get babied and don't get the wear and therefore don't build the patina that most are looking for. Plus a lot of guys seem to spend so much time fretting about something happening to the very expensive jackets that they don't really seem to enjoy carefree wear
with them. Over at the hat place used to be classic, chaps nearly having a fit because there was a spot on the jacket if you looked at it from exactly a 52 degree angle, guys having palpitations about whether to lie it on the floor or put it on a hanger, and then good grief what kind of hanger??!!
I have two "cheapie" A-2s and bloody love them. I wear them in all weathers, I do manual work in them and I'm not afraid of having a pint or eating a kebab whilst wearing the things. It's liberating to just wear a jacket, do whatever the hell you want to in it and don't give a flying firetruck about it. It's so much more enjoyable.