The author also makes an interesting point about consumerism: "... 'does it make them a consumer or a producer?' I have met electronics and computer geeks whose skills in their fields are awe inspiring. You give these people direction, and they will develop or build amazing things. Those people are producers. Unfortunately, most geeks are consumers. They spend an inordinate amount of money on their obsessions."
I used to be; reading this article was one of the catalysts for a serious rethink of how I was spending my time, what I was focusing on in life, & my state of mind in general.