Nicely said, Don,

And though I see the same things about what seems to be unecessary opulence, while you say "tomato" I say "tomato"...

I remember an epiphany of sorts (no, not the guitar) that I had several years ago (see, I am old enough to have seen a little bit of real life --even if not enough yet to acquire wisdom *tweak, tweak*).

I was visiting the Biltmore estate outside of Ashville NC. After walking through what seemed to be endless rooms of incredible art and craft, representing millions of dollars, I started to think to myself, "What in the name of God could anyone need with so MUCH?!".

Then, of a sudden, the craftsman/businessman in me popped his needy little head up over my other shoulder and said......"wow, what else could have employed this level of craftsmanship? -- allowed this many craftsmen to profit from work done in such a manner that was both the pinnacle of human craftsmanship (something I hold in high esteme -- and think it a GOOD part of humanity), and yet so improbable as a thing to be able to sell among the masses?"

We can poo-poo the refinement that we choose not to have -- or can't afford, and surely there is a balance to be had wherein we aren't meant to live in caves (much as I might have enjoyed the porn-lite, junk anthropolgy of Jean M. Auel).

As a craftsman though, I think the arts elevate us -- make us better humans, improve life. What you suggest -- subsistant living, well, I'm also just selfish enough to not want to have to give up my life as a potter to take on what "meaningful" work may be left in your world view.

And that doesn't even touch on technical achievement and excellence.