It seems to me that if a person got to the “black hat spiritual level” without one, he probably could get to the next level without a black hat too. I don’t know why a person needs to “show off” his level of frumkeit to other people. Why is there such a need to stand out? Your relationship with Hashem is between you and Hashem alone and no one needs to know where you stand (with a possible exception being a Rav who should dress differently than his tzibbur to command respect). If you’re in a place where the norm is to wear it, then wear it. If the place isn’t the norm, why is it necessary? Again, why the need to show everyone else what spiritual level you feel that you’re on?
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