Flying with tackle

Perhaps naive question...Couldn't you Fed ex/ups your stuff to the place you are staying at and save the major luggage tax?

I suppose you could?  But personally I'd rather have it with me.  I'd seriously lose my cool if my gear didn't show up when/where it was supposed to.  Fact of the matter is, you're going to pay $ one way or another.  And this last trip was the cheapest I've gotten it down to thus far.