If by "buying things" that includes buying into pervasive detachment from reality (ie, Q related posts) then maybe it's even worse.

Not many cultures have ever been free from widespread pervasive detachment from reality. By default, that's religion, though some political ideologies and superstitions have also filled that need. If you really don't like it, you probably don't like humans. And I tend to agree, humans have a fault in their brains causing irrational beliefs, but it probably serves some more valuable purpose than being right.

Religion is arguably useful to those who follow it (state of mind, material benefits) vs. those who are in the out-group.

Could the same be said of Q content?

While I don't really know anything about Qanon. I guess it provides a sense exclusive group membership, similar to flat-Earthism. Not just anybody can join for the same reason not just anybody can suddenly believe a goddess molded a living child from the dirt she scraped off her body.

If the detachment from reality drives engagement and leaves people in a susceptible state to advertisement, more the better.

they were probably more likely to end up in finance tbh