Not caring is being a bump on a log? LOL, ok...consider me a bump then!
As I've said a thousand times, and probably a thousand more: I do care about rank. It's not a bad thing. However, I don't place it as high on the pedestal as others do. Some people are all about the rank, as if that alone, is the determining factor of skill in the arts. I don't know about you, but in all of the years that I've been training, I've seen some people who certainly didn't deserve the rank they had tied around their waist!! People that are Green, Brown and even Black belts, and their stances suck, their kata sucks, their punches and kicks suck! When I see that, to me, that doesn't indicate hard work. And if it does indicate hard work, then clearly that teacher views hard work very differently.
Sorry, but there are much more important things to worry about, than that new belt or stripe. Now, don't mistake that for me not liking when I get a new belt after a test. Difference is, I'm not in any rush. If it takes me 3 months or 3 years to advance to my next belt, then so be it. I don't want anything handed to me. I want to bust my ***, and put in the hard work. Especially when you're going for a higher rank.