I wasn't going to say anything but I have to.
I first want to say that I also want an award for reading this whole thread.
E.P. I understand most of the points you have spoken about. The thing is even if you are trying to not come off as snobby and stuck-up, you kind of are! Sorry! You keep saying how you were raised in this affluent area with men who can even pick out fake purses (DH laughed at that one) and that you can't imagine ever buying a fake and then mentioning way more than once about your extensive "real" handbag collection.
I don't know you, you may be a very real person. But I think the reason people are getting defensive is because even though you state you're not trying to sound snobby , sorry you are. How you say. Because people I know who have it don't go around flaunting or advertising that they have it.
I may be way off base but more than once I sat here shaking my head at alot of these comments. Alot of us, back in our college days, like you at 21, could also buy "real" designer bags and I did. Not as many as you, but a couple. Heck I even spent $1500.00 on a Super Bowl ticket.

Even though you didn't right out and say it, it does seem like you look down on people who don't buy "real", As someone else said, people have their reasons for not buying a real LV or Kate Spade. (Spate,

) . I think about it now and no way could I even think of getting a real LV. Now that I'm a SAHM with 2 kids thats a luxury we can't afford anymore.
You have alot more financial freedom than alot of people on this board. Even though you are in college you have no real financial responsibility, like children, mortgage and such. I say do it while you can because in 10 years you may be like some of us and not be able to anymore. Its fun to be able to buy expensive stuff and not look back. I just hope that you realize not all people who carry fakes are trying to portray an image that they can afford it when they can't. I have a real Kate Spade that my mom bought me when I was pregnant. I used it as a diaper bag. Loved that! And DH bought me a Coach for Christmas. But I do have a fake LV. it looks pretty close to my cousins real one when we put them together. You may be able to spot it, we couldn't.
But I do have my reasons for not buying a real LV, its called dance lessons, baseball, school tuition, a mortgage. I can go on and on.
Have fun while you can!