At a least keep up with inflation in order to have future value? I'm almost didn't write this because I didn't want to deal with the "why do we have to grow" r

At a least keep up with inflation in order to have future value? I'm almost didn't write this because I didn't want to deal with the "why do we have to grow" responses. If you are a single proprietorship then go nuts. Do what you want. If you take investor money you are an investment, and you are legally obligated (at top levels, via fiduciary obligations) to operate things to generate return. That's also why you have other corporate structures like B/public interest corps, mutuals, credit unions out there that don't obligate growth. Apple has to grow because it's public Delaware C corp. Or they have to return cash so owners can invest it elsewhere. Or the owners will fire the executives, or shareholder groups might vote for takeovers that offer greater returns. I'm not defending it, but explaining it.