I have noted more than once in the past those photographers on this forum whose images I have been consistently impressed with and greatly admire. While the cameras and lenses they chose likely had some bearing on their resulting images, there is little doubt in my mind that I would remain very impressed with their results regardless of the gear they they were using. I feel had they been handed any number of other camera/lens combinations, they would still have managed to produce striking results. The skills of the person operating the camera and associated lenses are still by far the biggest differentiating factor.
Sadly, I am reminded of this all too often through my own photography. Yet I can't help but think that this topic is also rather situation-dependent. It would seem that the needs of a hobbyist photographer like myself are going to vary quite a bit from those of a person who earns a living strictly through their photography with clients to answer to. In my case, if I manage to find satisfaction through the use of the gear that I own, while enjoying the process, and also managing to capture images that I am happy with at least some of the time, that is all I'm really shooting for (no pun intended). Fortunately I'm not dependent upon the need for my images to impress others.