I wouldn't say we're looking at a culture of salesmen. I'd say it's a culture of craftsmen. The salesman prizes negotiation; he does whatever he has to to get his commission. The craftsman focuses on building and presenting his product (and himself) in a way that maximizes the respect he gets from his peers. The difference between salesman and craftsman is subtle, but it's clear. And I think it's a good way to explain elements of youth culture that don't really jive with the article's point (e.g., the OWS movement).