Who said it's a young generation thing? I'm 36 and I always felt this way. I was raised to match, keep my stuff nice, especially only having 1 pair of shoes a year if that growing up.
Idiots? Really?
I feel it's idiotic to knock someone because they want to keep their kicks looking good. Why clean them then? Why use water proofer or suede protector? Why don't we all just wear dark color jeans with our $200+ kicks in the rain and dance in mud puddles all day? And to do anything else but this is an idiot. That way of thinking always sounded ******ed to me.