It's an affectation to the extent we draw attention from others to ourselves but not consciously contrived behaviour if the shooter see no distinction between gauges for the mission i.e. anything within 25-30 yards or, here or in Kansas, size of hoe for weeding beets. I don't think of discriminating use of the 16 as affectation in that sense. I'm alone most of the time anyway as I imagine you are on the prairies.