Your not alone. Your feeling of regret is because you are a good guy. You reacted because you felt like someone said one of your kids was messy. I think anyone would have felt that way.
My dart was my dad's daily driver for 30 years and then mostly sat in the garage for the next 20. The engine compartment is stock and has 51 years of dust and dirt in places. The bone heads who rebuilt the engine 25 years ago painted it blue from its OE red. The body doesn't have a straight panel on it, paint is chipped off on all sides. The interior has a seam that let go on the drivers seat. I have polished some of the chrome / AL / Stainless (couldn't that have just picked with one!) The top is more patches than top.
This is my second year taking the car to the local Mopar only car show. I am always a bit uneasy parking next to the 50-60K GTX or other beautiful cars. BUT to all the d-bags out there like the a-hole who commented on your baby, I have only one thing to say...