> Like anything else in life? There is a lot of truth in that. Modern consumerist needs have an important push element to them. Creating "wants" is by now very

> Like anything else in life? There is a lot of truth in that. Modern consumerist needs have an important push element to them. Creating "wants" is by now very sophisticated social engineering practice with over a century of successful track record. But the examples you mention mostly bundle other phenomena that I would not include in the typical "consumer push" category. Doggedly pursuing research on various uncertain technologies (typically government founded) is common, but it is not pushing anything onto consumers. Potentially this may happen in the final phases, if/when successful, relevant and mass market commercializable. Mass market companies typically only enter the game when there is an expected short or (at most) medium term return that will compensate for the investment risk.