All good questions.  People tend to take the status quo for granted, so, for example, if you are used to having a car in a rural area, losing that car can be traumatic, whilst replacing it with a much more efficient smaller, diesel or electric car may not be.

So taxation, pricing, design innovations, marketing narratives etc. can all have a major influences but run into major "consumer resistance" if a major adjustment in consumer lifestyle is required.  Yes people will accept major changes, especially over time, but that is where politics and education gets much harder.

notes from no w here