Another thought that just occured to me is that we all too often buy not what we need,but what we want. And what we want is driven by advertising.

Eg., I need a car to get to work. It should get decent gas mileage and get me there safely and efficiently. I am told that a Hummer will do this AND my self image is of a macho, outdoorsy, extreme-sports type of person -- so I buy a Hummer. A Honda Civic would do the job just as well (if not better), be easier to park and maintain, and cost a lot less -- but I'm a Hummer type, not a Civic type.

We have been conditioned to think that we need more than we do, and we have confused "need" with "want."

I "want" a lever-action rifle in .45-70 caliber, but I certainly don't need it. (Please note that I also don't own one and probably never will.)