I can surely understand why so many of us would buy more artistic tools, eagerly hoping that those tools will ultimately either make us more productive or more creative by somehow exponentially increasing the overall scope of our musical capabilities.
And, in many ways many of these tools can and often will help us- if we choose them carefully and wisely.
On the other hand, however, with the increasing capabilities come an ever increasing number of learning curves, and all too many new options and choices to be sifted through.
This influx of new technology invariably presents a potential obstruction to creativity and productivity as it consumes our time, and requires more effort to be invested into the practical implementation of these new found tools.
Acquiring a vast variety of tools can become an addiction, of course, like any other addiction. And I've personally found that when consumption of these tools slows, I begin to digest and integrate what I already have better, and effectively learn to more efficiently utilize what I already have.
Doing otherwise is like putting too much food on my plate at one time, and not being able to properly consume it all because of the limitations of my body to process it.
My personal experience is telling me to
slow down the pace of buying new things, and to direct myself in a balanced manner that allows me to still buy new things without becoming bloated too quickly.
It's much easier to slow down when the money is tight, and much harder when there's a great sale and available money. But, easy or not, a person has to know when to say no and just use what you have on your plate, here and now.