What you say here makes sense, but I'm not the one who brought up "living without" things; you did, in your original question. I agree that the real focus should be on why people flock to these things, but in that case, you answered your own question: it's fun (you said). The value is the fun.

As for not lasting or people flocking to the next hot thing, that sounds about right to me for many faddish things that you find and play with on the internet, no?