Watched a photographer friend get asked why her "little tripod" looked so cheap during a setup. She just said it folds small for hiking to remote shots, which was the whole point. Throwing more specs at them, like @murphy.gavin said, would've just made it a bigger thing. The one plain fact about its use shut down the weird vibe fast.
Last year, my cousin walked into my tiny apartment and called it a sardine can. I laughed then, but later I flat out told him about the budget and work it takes to keep the place running. For comments like your friend's, I give a short, clear fact about the conditions, like explaining the heat comes from running lights for full shoots. People often joke without realizing how it sounds, and a simple, calm reply usually fixes the vibe. It stings when effort gets brushed off, but treating it as a chance to share your reality can shut down the awkwardness. Most times, they just need a nudge to see things from your side.