I think a lot of laypeople have rarely (or never) taken a really good photo, and assume when they encounter a selection of good photographs that the camera has more to do with it than the photographer. I suspect they fail to make the logical conclusion that it is their lack of skill rather than the fact that they weren't using a high end camera. The thought process is that they, too, could do that if they had 2000 dollarpounds to spend on gear.
Though cameras with automated features certainly help people who haven't learned photography to take decent photos in terms of getting the exposure within acceptable parameters....nothing can replace the artistic eye/brain. I am certain that most, if not all, of us could take a set of lovely photos with a box camera.