Every circumstance you mentioned was not "solved" with panic, but was solved with thoughtful and persitant action.
If you are proposing the only way to "thoughtful and persistent action" is by being induced by panic. Then I would appreciate your evidence of this.
For example the 2038 problem is more serious that Y2k. My actions today (as soon as I found out about it) was to alter all current and future systems and plan to alter all current systems in place in the near future.
No panic needed to take this action.
Do you believe the only way to motivate people is to panic them? Do you not see a long term down side to this approach?