People created abundance with industrialization and ended up domesticated. Then, in order to sooth their desire for self expression, they cling to stupid hobies, such as growing bonsai. Pathetic.
That's not a very good example to pick. From what I know of the origins of bonsai, there wasn't much abundance except for the feudal lord's acquisition at the expense of those in the area the lord was in charge of. And this was in pre-industrial Japan.