> Since energy actually costs money, capitalist pressures will make people think of ways to save energy (and time). This and similar facile arguments are getti

> Since energy actually costs money, capitalist pressures will make people think of ways to save energy (and time). This and similar facile arguments are getting tiresome. They seem predicated on nothing but the most basic Econ 101 understanding of value. Nothing exists in that idealized world -- in reality, complex mechanisms keep this kind of excess spend relevant (marketing and public image, "first to market" concerns, sunk cost spending, and a million more) regardless of more material considerations, so to lean on this trope is not really up to the standards of HN discussion in my book.