I have come to realize we are all pretenders to a certain extent. None of us really know what we are doing and we are all just guessing and trying and handling it differently.
Money isn’t everything but it is the only thing that works at the grocery store and ranks up there in importance with oxygen.
Something that central to all that we do certainly has to become central to our decisions. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing as assessing risk and considering consequences makes for better decision making.
Plus, when things go wrong, we can simply blame the evil dollar for the outcome rather than learn from the situation! ;)
I think the blame on money is misguided (though fiat is nonsense), as people are confused as to its tool-like nature. They don't consider that without money, their lives would be far harder, especially if they have to trade their skills directly - and most people don't have tradeable skills, they have collaborative skills that require working with others for the outcome.
Yet, I don't like how so many people seem to think that they are above money, as if they don't need it to be happy. Technically, none of us do, but try living without it practically, and most will realize that life isn't easier, or better.