Ersatz Utility, Conspicuous Consumption, Herd Instinct

Veblen's phrase 'conspicuous consumption' instructively characterizes some cases of Ersatz Utility.  For, 'conspicuous' highlights the source of the presumed usefulness of e. g. the purchase of a Rolls-Royce, not for reliability or comfort, but for presumed prestige.  In other words, in such instances, the value of the item is as a status symbol.  But, the flimsiness of that Utility is evident from the absence of any actual consequences beyond the imagined admiration of others.  So, the irony of Conspicuous Consumption is that underlying its aim of achieving distinctiveness is a herd instinct, i. e. it is entirely dependent on the opinion of others.