Just put your stuff in a bag, it'll make people wonder when you walk into the 47 with a bag over your shoulder.
Warning: Replace it after every trip, you don't want it to rip in the middle of LAX and have to carry out your stuff in your hands.
I personally buy new luggage every 2 or 3 years. There's no reason to keep those old things longer than that.
In the end everybody does what they want. I respect that.