this idea of choice of ... energy providers and the drive to constantly be swapping tariffs: I would prefer fewer providers offering good service at a reasonable price and leave me alone. I've got reading and thinking to do, and I need all that time for doing nothing.

Ha ha, I feel what you're saying with this one... especially here in the UK. Can't get away from the constant energy company swapping, no matter your financial circumstances ;-) I'm not a huge fan of consumerism if I'm honest. Being, relatively, quite low income ironically allows me a good distance from most of that illusory choice as I just buy food/goods that are cheapest and don't think about it. Lol, for example the last time I bought clothes was nearly a year ago. I just don't think about that stuff anymore, like shopping for pleasure... it just doesn't register. I shop only out of necessity. Sometimes I do miss that feeling of being able to just buy whatever I want, but when I worked a salary job I ended buying a load of crap I didn't want or need just out of dissatisfaction and stress relief.