> the capitalist arms race where something seems to come from nothing

The bugs in our system that let some live at other people's expenses (it doesn't come from nothing, the paths are just too convoluted to identify the victims) are very appealing so everyone's pining for it.

Not everyone equally though don't be mistaken. A lot of people, myself included, aren't content with "making a living" and devoting any surplus time and energy to creativity, honing skills, self-realization and the like.

The aggressively capitalistic ones ("look! got me another investment property!!") are usually those that, according to their own self assessment, can't compete on talent and skill and are therefore feeling perennially insecure and desperate.

This includes most Bitcoiners, who, other than Bitcoin, have nothing to talk about. The skilled people, in the other hand, will talk your ear off about their latest creation and what have you. You can usually tell the one from the other in about 30 seconds of conversation only. 

 Gaah. "are content with making a living"