I don't find it intimidating or overwhelming. I find it interesting and absolutely don't feel a need to buy any or everything. I do like to find out about new things, you never know when one will come along to solve a problem for you or make it easier to achieve your ideas. After all, some of the basics most of us use every single time, ie rotary cutters, basic rulers, the variety of available thread, even electric sewing machines etc were unheard of way back in the day. I can't even imagine I would quilt at all without them. When I think about how the pioneer women quilted I can't imagine I would have even survived crossing the country in a covered wagon! Just think of what the internet has done for quilting.