Hi Galen. The issue of acquiring "novelties" that you address is very interesting. The industry is very effective at selling things that make people feel "different" or "special", many people are willing to pay a lot of money to feel this way: "special". This is my opinion.
I agree and a lot of it is the belief they have that others perceive them as more valid as a person because they have the latest and greatest thing. Marketers play on that.
The industry, in addition to innovating, does what it has to do, which is to find a market for its products. And it has found a very special market...
Best regards, I hope the weekend was very productive.