Think it's the trap that if you continue with the hobby, all the starter gear is useless and all the money could have been spent on better equipment.
I paint miniatures. Not as often it as much as I would like to because of dividing my time between work, two year old and chores, but I have had the hobby for the last six years.
I have yet to purchase an airbrush, and I can get a perfectly decent starter set for lets say 20 USD. But I can also get a better set with high end compressor, better paint gun.for 60 USD. I know that if I keep getting better at using the airbrush I will eventually get the high end stuff, why not "save" money and get it right away.
i think the trick is to start with a smaller investment, instead of starting with airbrushing, start with hand painting, and if you invest a significant enough amount of time into it you have a much better excuse for jumping straight to nicer equipment, personally, i have a rule that i don't buy the "cheapest" equipment, i buy nice equipment that I need
I don't know how it would apply to painting minies. but there is definitely starter gear, which is better than 'pro' stuff - just by being friendly.
i climb and now that i am a bit better i use shoes about 2 sizes too small and have a pretty aggressive arch. bouldering in them is comfortable and i like them. but if i had them as my beginner shoes - i would have quit because that just hurts if you are not used to it. so i do see a benefit in beginner gear, even if you will eventually outgrow it.