They can. Does it matter? Works until it doesn't. Don't be holding the bag when the music stops and it isn't your problem. Manage credit risk my good friend! The topic of appearance of wealth and actual wealth is for another thread.

So my position is clear, I want a better world, but am also pragmatic about the fish bowl I live in current state. If Americans, who are responsible for 35% of global gasoline consumption, want to buy trucks, sell them EVs. I cannot tell them not to buy trucks. I cannot make trucks smaller. I cannot build pedestrian friendly urban cores in any reasonable timeframe. I cannot tell them to be financially responsible. Free will and all that. Don't complain about levers that don't exist or that you can't pull, pull hard on levers you can.

"Look at that Cybertruck. Wouldn't you look cool in that?"

https://martecgroup.com/emotional-car-buying-journey/

(i know, everything is terrible, welcome to the shit show; first time?)

Agree I should've picked my word more carefully there. The only difference between those with actual wealth and those cosplaying is the window of time in which you can experience the benefits of the consumption. Catches up faster to those operating off of debt instead of wealth, but depending on your current state and life trajectory, that may not matter to you.

No one wants to be rich to be rich, for an arbitrary number in their bank or brokerage account. They want to be rich for some combination of freedom, power, status, and consumption. If you can get that with debt instead of some sort of wealth, there you go.