I'm sorry, I wouldn't totally agree with that.

Sure, there's some Chinese people like those who you describe (who usually run crappy small businesses that aren't exactly booming because they sit on their arse), but every now and again, drinking tea with a friend or client is a good way to spend time discussing matters in a not so formal and relaxed way. Also, I'm guilty of partaking in tea sampling sessions at various tea shops in order to chat up pretty sales assistants (especially when initially learning Chinese) under the false pretense of shopping for loose tea leaves.

If you ignore the whole equipment and rituals thing, Chinese tea rituals are effectively just an exxagerated/advanced version of the way that Brits like to sit down with a cuppa and chat. For me, a farmer style tea bottle/flask to drink Chinese style teas whilst at work is perfectly good enough; I'm usually too busy to deal with all that 'culture.'