Thankfully, I haven't met too many people like that, though that might be because I hang out with power-knitters. You know, the people who make 10 Fair Isle sweaters a year or have their own account with Jamieson and Smith (http://www.shetland-wool-brokers.zetnet.co.uk/).

But admittedly I'm a yarn snob and avoid synthetic unless someone I really likes makes a specific request.