This is very true! I have started to look at life in a very different way ever since I downsized and one of the emotional liberties I have experienced is that I almost never feel compelled to go shopping just for the hell of it and when I am looking at a kitchen gadget that looks kinda cool and what not, I never feel like buying it would be a good idea. It just doesn't fit into my life anymore.
Your take on this is an interesting perspective that I actually hadn't considered, but it makes a lot of sense to me.