I think as long as you have fun, how you do it is not as important. I cannot know, but I would guess you have seen and experienced many neat things that luxury locations would never expose a different type of traveler too.
It is good to take good advised from others and leave bad advice or comments on the floor. I'm glad you didn't let it stop you.
I really had fun and the reason I created a travel blog as a budget traveler is because I wanted to show other people that it is possible to travel with less money. No need to splurge.