I try to remember just what our previous generations sewed with and thank my stars that I have some improvements. But just look at what they turned out with basic equipment.
My iron was researched and I love it. An approx. $30 Black and Decker. My sewing machine right now is a 50 year old Featherweight. (Getting a Bernina 440 in a week or so).
There are so many techniques out there. Elly S. has a book with 12 ways to applique. She says learn all you can and pick what works for you. This one lesson helped me the most. Not everything will work for you but it is a lesson and you remember it for the next project. I have taken probably a hundred classes and have a bookshelf of books and still do it "my way". But every so often, a gem of an idea or technique will appear.
I am very suspicious (normally this way) of anyone who says their way is the very best or the ONLY way to do something. If they are selling something, I run the other direction. If they are teaching something, I carefully inspect their finished product and if I think worthy of the process they created, may try it. But now it takes a lot of work to get me to buy something NEW.