Well, I figured the protective gear I get I'll have for a long time, and I really liked how it all fit.  The skates and sticks will go more quickly.  And since I'm relatively new to ice hockey compared to a lot of people, I felt as though if I started out in Vapor X60s, I wouldn't appreciate them as as much, compared to upgrading after a year or two.  The stick, I'm still trying out patterns, so once I find "the one," I'll buy a nice OPS.  Also, I don't consider sticks to be the most important.  Skates, yeah, they're important, but starting out in ice is already expensive.  another $400 for top of the line skates would be an even steeper challenge for someone funding their own hobby.  I didn't grow up in a privileged family, and college is expensive.