real connoisseurs who could tell the difference would be able to tell the wine was overpriced As long as people like that are the ones buying most $60 wine, th

real connoisseurs who could tell the difference would be able to tell the wine was overpriced As long as people like that are the ones buying most $60 wine, then wine sellers have an incentive to be honest. If people like me are buying lots of $60 wine, then there's going to be lots of plonk selling for $60, forcing connoisseurs to be more careful and less adventurous. Unless you are an extremely frugal minimalist you already implicitly do spend money on things which do less for the greater good than a good charity, so arguing about quite where you draw the line to 'excess' is a bit irrelevant I may gladly give in to consumer desires, but I don't feel sad when my consumer lust is not excited. I don't send out a plea saying, "Somebody, please get me excited about shaving cream. I want to spend a lot on it and feel good about it." That's like a porn fiend who has satiated himself but remains at the computer looking through porn, trying to find something that will make him horny again. That goes beyond fulfilling desire; it's addiction.