I think of it more as a function of age.
Think of fuel belts like you would bifocals. As an under 40 year old you wouldn't want to be caught dead in bifocals. The same principle should apply for fuel belts.
Now you're over 40 and you don't give a rat's ass about perception, you just want functionality, time to load up the bifocals, strap on the fuel belt and slip into the half tights baby! I do have limits though; no water or goo unless I’m going longer than 10 miles and for God’s sake, definitely no fuel belt during a race.
My young running was before they invented baggy shorts, fuel belts, hydration, nutrition, internet, etc., etc. So not only would I have not been caught dead in/using any of these things but I didn't even know what the hell they were.
Now that I'm old, I'm embracing all this new technology (except baggy shorts that is) and making fun of people under 40 for doing likewise.