It's not a bike problem or a reddit problem but a people problem. Forums were the same way if not worse because people had so much rep tied to their username. It's the same thing with all my different interests, it's like you can take out all the topic-specific language from the flamewars to the constant posts suggesting you buy x brand that the community has ordained as the best product there is for y use, and the forums would be perfectly interchangeable whether people are arguing/showing off about bicycles or skis or ham radios. The hobbiest internet self validates a lot of gear acquisition syndrome too. It's uncanny how similar they all feel no matter the topic at hand.