Plates can be used to tell other more of who you are. They can express your personality or advertise a product or service. They can offer the feeling of being 'elite'. Are they vein you ask? Perhaps yes. It is not for me to say. It depends what the motive is. Is it about yourself or are you promoting a higher cause? One must consider the equation of the cost of the plate vs the return whether that be happiness, increased business, or promoting a worthy cause. For some it is just money and the end result cannot be priced. It is up to the person. For myself in certain cases I may choose to have one yes but would not spend a lot of money on it. There are more important things in life for me to do. Enjoyed the post my friend.