> people tend to forget that advertising covers a real need
I don't buy it. Advertising is not going to provide me with the service that is the most suited to my need, or with the best value. In fact, quite the opposite: the advertisement that's the most likely to reach me comes from the company with the largest budget for advertisement. That budget eats into either the profit of the company or into the quality of service delivered.
It is short-sited to say advertising eats into the profit of the company. When done successfully, it allows for more goods to be sold which increases profits and in turn allows for more research and development and thus better products.
Advertising covers a real need for businesses, (you and I aren't the customer, we are the product). The math works out pretty simply: what is the total profit with 0 advertising vs the total profit with advertising? If you had a magical machine where you could insert a dollar and get $1.05 out, you should be putting your money in there as fast as possible.
I don't buy it. Advertising is not going to provide me with the service that is the most suited to my need, or with the best value. In fact, quite the opposite: the advertisement that's the most likely to reach me comes from the company with the largest budget for advertisement. That budget eats into either the profit of the company or into the quality of service delivered.