After working with the RCAF on multiple occasions, that tracks.
Uniformity, dress, drill, general military bearing are laissez-faire and often times it's a feat to see RCAF folks wearing pants let alone have a proper set of polished footwear or pressed uniform; it's not a cultural or operational priority for those folks because "make plane fly, keep plane flying, repair plane so it can fly again, repeat" is the priority.
Now the Army on the other hand, a lot of our priorities are instilling adherence to order, discipline, and maintenance of espirit de corps. There is a practical application to Drill and Ceremonial for us because it is a simple and effective tool to condition troops to responding to authority, loud commands, and attention to detail. That bleeds into all aspects of regimental life, including what to wear and how to dress.
A kit list, for example, is how you prevent Pte. Bloggins from dying of hypothermia because they didn't want to bring a sleeping bag. Do I think MCpl/Sgt Bloggins doesn't know what to bring on an ex? Fuck no. It does, however, help keep everyone accountable to the team and provides an example to everyone down the line on what is acceptable and needed in the field.
The mentality I described above is why everyone is expected to have regimental collar dogs and badges on their DEU and the consequences are varied from a jacking, to extra duties, to being viewed as a "troublemaker" within Bn lines.
Where things go sideways is how often folks are coerced into having to pay for that uniformity. It also doesn't help that the supply system doesn't necessarily prioritize those items as much as the RSM does. So it becomes the "Do I fight this, or do I just conform to no knock the boat?" That conundrum shifts from one side to the other with time, rank, and experience.
Personally, I pay my Corps stupidity tax every 2 or so years to get better quality accouterments than the poor quality ones I see coming through clothing stores. Why? Well you see this guy... let's call him the Adjt.... he controls the duty roster... and I like having my weekends off...
Where the consequences of not conforming to regimental norms are worse than paying the 60 bucks....