As far as sewing machines go -
I am curious/interested in what other people are using. My "youngest" machine is from the 1980s or 1990s. The only reason I don't take my Singer 237 (a plain jane from the early 1960s - it zigzags, sews straight, has three needle positions, and sews forward and backward) to sew-ins or classes is because it's heavy.
As far wanting to see what other people are doing -
I am guilty of that, too.
I would be intimidated going to a class where I knew very little about the topic - wine - for example, would be one of them. How to recognize a knock-off from the real thing in the fashion world would be another topic where I would be completely misplaced.
I am intimidated when I get in a group where I know that most of the other people in it are more educated, have more money, have careers, etc.
But, on the other hand, most of them are breathing the same air I am, and most of their bodies function similarly to how mine does. (Although they might be better able to afford tune-ups and better paint jobs!)
(I do like the little red squiggle that shows me that I should check out the spelling on a word.)