Your perspective is well-taken. There's probably any level of historically accurate representation one could achieve, depending on personal goals &/or the group one desires to join. Having been an American Civil War re-enactor, I've witnessed both ends of the spectrum. The organisation in which I was a member was quite understanding. A correct presentation was the main goal, but some members went so far as to be concerned over clothing stitch counts & types, such as hand- versus machine-sewn. Others made a proper appearance, but realised no spectator would inspect historical accuracy to that extent.
Some of our events were covered by local & network television, yet the editing I saw broadcast seemed well-planned. As was stated by another forum member, our present-day is a great distance from the 19th century, or 18th century for that matter. So, how far is one willing &/or able to go in being historically correct?
That belt buckle -- was it hand-forged or mass-produced? And how was the barrel manufactured that's beautifully mounted in your stock? How about the firearm's furniture? What did you eat for lunch? Assuming you had lunch, was it consumed with period-correct utensils, prepared with historically correct implements & procedures? And how were those utensils made? How was the grain planted & harvested that comprised the flour used for making your bread?
Coffee beans. Okay, so they're green & pre-roasted, so you roasted them yourself. Then you ground them on a tree stump with your rifle butt. That's fun maybe & relatively admirable, but how were the beans harvested & transported? There's almost no end to how extreme one can go with this. I don't think we need to extend period correctness to the types of medical & dental care we receive.
I believe we needn't become so extreme as to be dictatorial of others. For those who join an historical organisation, follow their rules & recommendations. However, take time to enjoy the experience. We're all at some level on a learning curve; some are more accomplished & are a wealth of information. I'm amazed sometimes by just how much others know, & I sincerely enjoy listening to or reading of what they have to impart! Some can leave me awestruck by their knowledge & abilities!
Forums like this are super! Thought provoking input like yours perhaps causes others to pause & consider the various aspects of what we do & why we enjoy our activities so much. You provided great, constructive thoughts; thanks for taking time to share them.