> The ideas seem sourced from some brain-trust of idle-rich , rather than from the average US consumer
I think it says more about the economy currently. The "average US consumer" is the wealthy right now. Just 10% of the population, the highest earners, drive nearly 50% of consumption currently and that number is growing.
That is the new average US consumer, hence the ads and use cases targeting a more well-off demographic. Everyone else has been left behind.
I think my marketing professor said something interesting about it a decade or so ago. Basically, in the US we are moving towards heavy bifurcation. You can cater to the well-off or not well-off. The class was full of kids, who did not seem to understand the implications of what he was already saying then ( not that it technically is that mindblowing, the signs are there.. ).
I think it says more about the economy currently. The "average US consumer" is the wealthy right now. Just 10% of the population, the highest earners, drive nearly 50% of consumption currently and that number is growing.
That is the new average US consumer, hence the ads and use cases targeting a more well-off demographic. Everyone else has been left behind.