Really, I'm not sure I'd consider it any of those. On the other hand, I'd consider it to have aspects of all of those. So let's take them one at a time.

Political. Personally, I feel that it's an excellent combination. I'm quite radical with respect to politics, and I agree with the Steampunk Magazine people in having a political view of steampunk. However, this isn't what everyone thinks. So I'd feel it's by no means inherent or required, but that quite a lot of people feel they blend well.

Artistic. Definitely. Peruse some of the stuff on DA, or have a look at the work of alexcf. Steampunk definitely fits in well with art, and vice-versa.

Lifestyle or hobby. Personally, I tend to say that "Steampunk is a state of mind". I have a lot of respect for the people who wear full costume every day, who build their own bicycles and airships. I also have a lot of respect for those who write and draw, or build compact and wonderful gizmos, but don't live that way every day. I don't think that either approach is 'wrong' or 'non-steampunk'.

DIY. No, not essential at all. I don't build steampunk gizmos and the like. I do some work like stuff, but it's mostly writing and some sketching. It's important to remember that Steampunk was first a literary movement, really. There's a lot of historical precedent for the thinker as much as the doer, the penman as much as the hammerwoman.

As usual, these are just my opinions. Nobody should give them any serious consideration, or care too much if they disagree with me.

Tim,
Gaslamp Bazaar Anti-Management.

For me personally? It is artistic. I am not "living the life", so to speak, but incorporate the artistic sensibilities into nooks and crannies. I helped start up a local steampunk meetup group to get to know more people with similar hobbies. www.seattlesteamrats.com I think it can many things to many people, and dig on that. But for me, it's more aesthetic and creative than lifestyle.

"If we were over crowded then it might be better in another forum, but any action might get a few more people to start talking in here."

Heh, quite possibly true. As far as that goes I speak for myself when I say that I, aside from minor quips, can be painfully shy so apologies for my phantom-esque comings and goings.

As far as the "costuming" bit goes, I see it from all fronts. Aside from any creative thought and craftsmenship, I don't think anyone should or would expect any true 'respect' for their daily garb, steampunk or whatever flavor you choose. I will say though as someone who is a dancer and tends to dress like a dancer, the semi-regular blurbs of "What's With The Costume?" tend to get annoying. Don't get me wrong, running around in pantaloons and flowers and what-have-you tend to get a certain amount of attention, that is just a fact of life that must be dealt with. I guess it just bothers me that my clothing of choice would be considered by many to be a "costume" when it is in fact an outward display of a major aspect of my personality. From my end I can only suppose that it is just as much of a costume as the average uniform of white T-shirt and jeans, though I believe that I often times can claim myself as being the more honest of the two.

So it is with my 'steampunky' side. While walking around in fingerless gloves, ruffled skirts and goggles (which are wonderful for the harsh Florida sun might I say) is basically asking for general social commentary, it's really not a costume for me. It's how I groove. ;)

As for answering my own question, I consider Steampunk to be more of a frame of mind, an asthetic that can be utilized along a person by person basis. As someone who places value on form and function, I do feel drawn towards the mechanical art of the genre, both seeing and being able to eventually make some of my own (still in the planning stages). I don't consider DIY to be an absolute necessity, though it may help gleam a bit of insight into the work of some of the major players that are helping to bring this movement (for lack of a better term) to light. I think Steampunk still very much has its' feet grounded into literature and that the next decade or so should prove very interesting considering the rising popularity of faires, balls, websites, publications, etc.

It's been great reading everyone's replies. I just sort of threw mine together so please excuse any bad grammer, non-sensical phrasing and complete collisions of thoughts. My Mental Air Traffic Controller is feeling quite sleepy from work.

For me, personally

I suppose it's a rejection of mass produced products

I prefer antique stores when I get furnishings, and it's because I'd rather pay more money knowing that I have something well made by a real crafts-person. Something that has lasted a hundred years in good condition will last another hundred years if taken care of. I don't know how people can waste money on compressed particle board furnishings (with a wood veneer, no dovetail jointing, etc) where once assembled the items they purchased might survive one or two moves and then start to get loose and crack apart.

I prefer to have heirlooms that my grandchildren will enjoy.

In general there is a political ramification. I don't believe in a disposable society, I despise "engineered obsolescence". I am a materialist, but I reject materialism that is empty calories lacking any good craftsmanship. I am "educated poor" but even in poverty I'd rather have a few really nice things that are well made and treasured than a bunch of newly made stuff from china that is going to look like junk in a year or two.

It's also something deeper. I majored in fine art, my professors portrayed classical realists as fascists who couldn't tolerate modernism, but that was decades earlier, now they were the establishment and classical realism was my calling... and they were the ones being fascists because what i had the passion for they saw as an antiquated style.

It always irritated me that I could do a pen & ink that takes a month of full time work to complete, highly detailed, looking like an old plate engraving but on a scale they wouldn't have been able to do so easily.(..but taking advantage of the technology of pens finer and far less bleed proof than any mapping pens used in the Victorian era of pen& ink work that inspired me) and I'd sell one for $3000 - $4000 dollars and the NY art expo.... but then see another artist who took a drunken and coke filled night of paint splotching and crude cartoon drawing pull in twice the same amount, and get lots of press. Part of the reason I moved to Texas, it seems like old money art buyers here like how my style can be applied to western art and landscapes, and are sensible enough to buy art according to the work that went into it rather than the hyped personality cult around an artist who relies on pretentiousness rather than effort.

I live in a Texas college town, Denton, it's very cultured. UNT has a very prestigious school for Jazz and Classical music and it's attracted a scene for live music that is very varied. Just yesterday I was on the square listening to a Celtic music trio on the sidewalk, the mood felt like it was straight out of Firefly. Steampunk naturally happens here, without people knowing it. Ranchers walk around in cowboy hats with bluetooths and check out bluegrass bands appreciated by punk rockers on the same lawn. Goth is less strict, less industrial looking, more corsets, more bellydance influence (there are four chukka bars with bellydancing in this town), there is more lace and the leather is as likely to be a warm weathered brown or Gold as black. Many men grow long beards here, like ol' pioneers, but make alternative country music that might have as much influcence from Johnny Rotten as Johnny Cash. I realized I belonged here more than NYC, pace of life is slower, people appreciate things more. Old and new is juxtaposed casually without pretense, but with pride.

I see steampunk as possibly pointing to a future that in some ways is less dystopian than a modernist/futurist future would be like. It would be a future where perhaps robotics and automation would become so sophisticated and adaptable that the basics of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc would be taken care of for humanity... so what on earth would we do with our time other than enjoy arts and crafts to pass the time. What else could a person do of value other than use that freedom to express themselves as artisans, whether it be through quilting and knitting, art, creating furnishings and decor, etc. I think that these things will become increasingly more important.

And given CNC technologies, there is no reason we can't have mass produced items that don't simulate hand craftsmanship of engravings, flourishes, details, etc.

My personal dress varies according to mood, but generally in winter I wear a long brown leather coat that it somewhat reminiscent of a WWI pilot's garb, I mix western wear into the wardrobe... which essentially is timeless.