> Because they also want everything for free.

Maybe people just goes to the cheaper option available because increasing inequality has left millions with no disposable income.

This is the same logic by which people prefers cheap furniture instead of high quality one. It is not a preference for cheap but it is just what they can afford, if they had more money most people will get the higher quality version and pay the price.

> Maybe people just goes to the cheaper option available because increasing inequality has left millions with no disposable income.

No disposable income would mean not being able to spend money, meaning never buy anything. If this was true the ad industry would very quickly run bankrupt. And yet the revenues of Google and Facebook indicate otherwise.

Even without disposable income, advertising can still lead to people choosing alternatives and directing their spend someplace else, so your conclusion does not follow. If someone is maxing out their income they can still be advertised to to get them to switch consumption habits.