If you use the extra time to do those quality things like playing with your dog or reading then you're benefiting from the on-demand economy. You've figured out how to make it work for you. That's great.
But... Lots of other people don't use that time well. They 'save' lots of time by having things brought to them, and spend that time watching TV or browsing the net despite not really enjoying those things. They're exchanging money for time to do passive activities they don't like and don't make them feel good. That is not a benefit. People apparently forget that saving time is a two-fold activity. There is the act of doing something to save the time, but there is also the act of using the time you saved to do something that doesn't make you feel awful. Unless you can do both things spending money to save time actually makes your situation worse.
I don't mean this snarkily: I think you have a higher opinion of retail shopping than me. Some people certainly enjoy it. Even I enjoy it sometimes. But:
> They're exchanging money for time to do passive activities
> they don't like and don't make them feel good. That is not
> a benefit.
I would describe shopping as "exchanging time and money to do something I don't like and doesn't make me feel good" so... again, it's not an upgrade to me. But let's focus on a part of what you said:
> passive activities they don't like and don't make them feel good.
This is a real problem. And I don't mean to gloss over it. I have gone through stretches like this. It more or less fits the definition of anhedonia which is one potential criteria for a diagnosis of depression.
But here's the key question: what's the causal relationship here? It's very easy for me to believe that a depressed person would want to avoid shopping trips; it's much less clear to me that avoiding shopping trips could possibly cause depression.
Sounds like the problem is people being depressed, not people avoiding shopping trips.
> They 'save' lots of time by having things brought to them, and spend that time watching TV or browsing the net despite not really enjoying those things. They're exchanging money for time to do passive activities they don't like and don't make them feel good.
I would agree with you here - often I have to push myself to do something more worthwhile with my spare time. Why do we do these "passive activities"? Is it because it requires little effort, despite little reward? Is it a mild form of addiction? It almost seems like procrastination, except it happens during dedicated spare time.
But... Lots of other people don't use that time well. They 'save' lots of time by having things brought to them, and spend that time watching TV or browsing the net despite not really enjoying those things. They're exchanging money for time to do passive activities they don't like and don't make them feel good. That is not a benefit. People apparently forget that saving time is a two-fold activity. There is the act of doing something to save the time, but there is also the act of using the time you saved to do something that doesn't make you feel awful. Unless you can do both things spending money to save time actually makes your situation worse.