> I see 80 brands of deodorant [...] satisfy[ing] all manner of wants and needs
I'm not exactly in favor of a command economy, but seriously, how many of these 80 types of deodorant -- or any comparable consumer product -- are fundamentally different from one another, as opposed to being distinguished only by their branding and marketing?
It's not up to me or you to determine why there are so many brands of consumer products. There is not a moment after which we ban all further competition and new entrants. I hope competitors continue to innovate, so we have the best possible choice on a multitude of variables including price, quality, ingredients, etc.
I'm not exactly in favor of a command economy, but seriously, how many of these 80 types of deodorant -- or any comparable consumer product -- are fundamentally different from one another, as opposed to being distinguished only by their branding and marketing?