I think this is one of the key factors: most of the buzz today is orienting on what amounts to entertainment for the moneyed. Since the moneyed, well, have mone

I think this is one of the key factors: most of the buzz today is orienting on what amounts to entertainment for the moneyed. Since the moneyed, well, have money, they buy it, and thus the company does well. What makes my life 1% more fun does nothing for someone in a third-world country. This is compared to, say, 50 years ago, where something that made my life better, e.g., an advance in refrigeration tech, could be distributed out to the third world better. I'm pulling examples out of a hat here, and I'm sure that other and better examples could be found. There are a ton of more fundamental projects done by companies, people, and universities out there. But they don't get the buzz right now, generally speaking.