I think that the examples the author highlights are not examples of that illusion. Instead, I think they are straightforward examples of how someone without the

I think that the examples the author highlights are not examples of that illusion. Instead, I think they are straightforward examples of how someone without the means to afford more expensive luxuries (such as a laptop with a working battery, or the wealth to pay retail prices for car parts) can end-up with more "stuff" to reduce risks (their laptop running of our juice while they are on the road, or not being able to use their car due to a lack of parts).