Well, he described me. I also doubted between an iPhone 12 mini and a PinePhone (the FairPhone was also in the mix). Both (or all 3) appealing for very different reasons.
Would anyone grief a car mechanic for owning a miata, a truck, and probably half a dozen vehicles in total? One form of being a professional involves being an enthusiast.
HN is (sometimes rightly) perceived as a hive mind with regards to the consensus that emerges on certain topics. It's a classier country club than Reddit, but it's still one.