Comment by xkcd-sucks
2 months ago
Tobacco actually has some value: It produces a craving, which can be satisfied temporarily. Being able to fulfill some kind of desire, even a contrived one, is the value. Or rather, the addiction of smoking created a desire that can definitely be satisfied.
It's a net-zero benefit good because it artificially creates a problem then solves it. It's just an obvious example of this, but many products (even software) fall into this description. Which is the larger context I'm speaking to.
You don't need to make things better to make money.