> There are people who trade at a deficit just because they believe that's the only viable option.

It's not a deficit if the value they assign to what they get is higher than the value they assign to what they give.

If they are giving away something they value highly for something they value less highly, then it's not a voluntary trade, now is it?

Yes, but people don't always make voluntary trades. Like staying in a job they hate, because they believe they will find it difficult/impossible to find a better option.

> Yes, but people don't always make voluntary trades. Like staying in a job they hate, because they believe they will find it difficult/impossible to find a better option.

That's still a value assignment: they value eating and paying rent more highly than job satisfaction.

If they work themselves to death, do they still receive more value than they give?