I view it like browsing in a store. Sure I can go to the Django community and find books on that there (and I do), but Amazon recently recommended me a book on Microservices. They had been off my radar for a while, but I purchased it for later.

It is about uncovering things that are of value, but that I might not think of immediately.

so you literally bought something you didn't know existed, want, or need and might not ever get to reading?

This just reads like people who buy humble bundle games or steam sale games.

For generations people have bought books they hope to read but never do.

Or guitars they hope to play regularly :-)

The best guitar-purchasing advise I ever got was: Never buy your dream guitar because you'll never feel like you're good enough to play it.

I have two bikes, and moved recently. Only had room for one, so the other went to a storage locker. I kept my beater at home because of exactly this phenomenon... since I've moved I've gone on more rides and felt little or no guilt about the unused bike in storage

lol - there’s some truth to that, depending on the definition of dream guitar. In my case my dream guitar was somewhat more expensive than all of my other one’s and it became and still is my number one every day guitar. It just feels so right and sounds so good, it makes me feel like a better player. :-)

I appreciate that statement. But that doesn't mean we need to accept being marketing to in such a way that encourages impulse purchases.

Yes, as given the cost of learning about microservices I decided that it was worth it.

I think it's the same reason torrents didn't completely destroy the entertainment industry. Consumers want a fresh new thing that seems to be made for them.

I have lists upon lists of of music, library ebooks (the free way to not pay!), and video games as well as multiple lifetimes worth of free content on the internet. What today's consumer craves is for anyone to reach in, show them the next perfect thing, and promise that the barrier to entry will be worthwhile. Some fans immediately know what they want next thanks to friends, critics, or their own insatiable research, but most people* desire a buzz of encouragement to get them started.

* I use the phrase "most people" very deliberately here. The Blue Ocean Strategy theorizes that there's always a new demographic to pursue. Reduce the barrier to entry and some increase in customer retention is almost guaranteed.