So the problem with lack of regulation or consumer protection is that grifting is actually the most profitable. There's no punishment for it and it's modus operendai for the current powers that be.
The american consumer has all the power and yet they do nothing with it.
There's very little most people are required to buy on a daily or monthly basis. Most of the stuff you buy lasts for a while outside of the groceries/expendable things. Consumer electronics? Games? Etc. All of it is great to continuously buy and pay for progress until it stops and instead of getting a better product you are getting an overpriced piece of shit that is the same as what you essentially have now.
Phones are having this problem and it was bad for apple so they did a redesign that didn't do much for the guts, but it made the new phone look different enough for people to have to have it. Graphics cards? All overkill for anyone not gaming in 4-8k. TVs? Cheap as fuck now and the expensive ones are just rich people scams. Speakers? Tech hasn't changed in DECADES. Wireless technology? Same shit for 3-5 years and is marginally better on generation bumps.
Cars last a while, furniture lasts a while, shoes last a while, clothes lasts a while, etc etc.
A lot of what is happening is wasteful spending by a contingent of Americans who feel brain tingles from getting new or nice things. That is all fine and good when you aren't getting fucked. It needs to stop when you are getting fucked and that's what companies are counting on. The willingness to take the fucking for brain tingles.
No it isn't. There is actually no situation I can think of where using the N word is appropriate as a response to stimulus of any kind. It's a 100% racist word.