Its sad if the self-valuation (and valuation of another man) of someone is built primarily upon his watches, car, house or salary.
But yes, I acknowledge that the world we live in can be a rather superficial one, and often, we are judged by what we own and what we do for a living.
We all live but once, and should not strive to please everyone. If a rep makes you happy, wear it well. Not everyone who can afford a gen watch would spend that kind of money on it.
People get rich through various ways, and financial prudence is a common trait among the wealthy. That prudence, my friends, is always worth more than the money spent on a gen watch.
If a rep is 90% like gen, and performs 99% like gen, any reason why one should consider spending 5-20x on the gen watch? Intrinsic value? Yes. You always get what you pay for. Let's not forget, that like gens, reps get traded at a different level. Look at the thriving trade section of RWG. The only difference between the rep and gen trade forums is the price level.