You don't have to cynically exploit your customers just because that's what other businesses do. If you can make an excellent product that solves a real problem and charge a reasonable price for it you'll likely do pretty well. Sure, other people will become immensely successful by cheating or by gaming the system in some way. But what difference does that make? Just do your own thing.
I think this is the point. Because the game is actually the psychology around why people buy shit. I can't make myself do that. For example. I can't ride the wave of hype because I don't believe its value is real or sustainable. Well a lot of excuse, right, that's why it's my trap.
Then don't. Or maybe you subconsciously don't want to do the work or have no good ideas. That's OK. But I can't see how this cynical attitude serves you otherwise.
As a reminder YC's mantra is "build something people want". There are plenty of now wealthy people on this forum that did that. Some never even had to do marketing because customers were so happy.
I don't get why they were so happy with avatar generator for example. I actually understand it's sort of fun. But $30 for that is a nope to me. This is why my mindset limits my idea space. I need to get out of that.
