Bogen: Whoah! That is so extremely warped. Are you, by extention saying that if you wear the right clothes, you ARE davening b’kavana?
Whats going on here is really nit-picking. All the hat-wearers would probably agree that in communities where hats are not worn at all, as in the frum mizrachim or perhaps the yemenites, the hat is not necessary. The issue is not the hat but coming to the RBSO with respect. The mizrachim go to weddings without jackets, ties or hats, and many of them daven with real sincerety.
But in communities where a person does where his hat for formal occasions, by not wearing it to daven, he may be showing disrespect. It all has to do with where you come from. Does canteresque even own a black hat? (I may be wrong, just assuming based on your posts) That doesn’t invalidate him as a Jew.
The point is, its not about the hat or crocs, and this is not a one-size fits all deal. It’s about showing respect to Tefillah. Saying that every jew must wear a black hat is simply absurd. Do you think the Rambam or Rashi wore a black hat?