Part of the point is people buy the status and the history of the brand. If the brand is consistent with the customers values.

If it comes out of a cold lifeless machine and not the warm hands of human craftsmanship, is it the same thing?

One thing to keep in mind is that in the 24th century, there still is no cure for baldness.

> which episodes of Star Trek should I watch?

Perhaps 'The Neutral Zone' season 1 episode 26. There is a cryogenically frozen person brought back to life, and he is obsessed with finding out about the value of his stock portfolio, and he and Picard have a conversation about how money no longer exists.

But I don't recall any episode that really explores the idea of a post-scarcity world (which is essentially communism I suppose)

they only have intrinsic value to begin with.

The bragging is basically a cultural think in your circles so no i dont see them becomming that.