I'm not arguing with you - you have a valid point.

But I don't view hobbies as that separate from status signals within the hobbying group. Oh you play games? What games? Did you beat it? etc etc.

Esoteric knowledge/practices here are status signls (Oh you reached shattered planet without xyz??).

That starts to sound a lot like "Oh you aquired a lambo XYZ without usual steps abc" and that's a really fun convo in the in-group, and a total miss with the out-group.

>But I don't view hobbies as that separate from status signals within the hobbying group.

The difference though is that this is not meant to serve "within the hobbying group".

They serves the status signal purpose when showing them to "laymen" and other rich people in general, not necessarily to other expensive car buyers or luxury watch buyers.

In other words, the, typically quiet, flaunting, is done to people otherwise uninterested about the specific ting, that nonetheless recognize the exclusivity and the knowledge that it's a subtle signal of "elevated taste" and that they belong to the tasteful-rich club.