Don't pigeon-hole it into just one option. There can be many reasons someone succumbs to the namebrands and materialistic imagery. A mid-life crisis, compensation for certain shortcomings - as you pointed out, or trying to match someone else's expectations and equally materialistic trappings, or falling in with the wrong crowd, all may be sponsoring circumstances.

As for smart car drivers, the message they shout out is, "hey, I'm gay." But, to be fair, the same message often exists for Hummer and exotic car drivers as well. For the smart car driver only it's augmented - "Hey, Im gay...and PC."

;-)

As for the knee to the groin, even a secret agent leaves himself open and vulnerable to the unexpected actions of a naked, albeit angry, woman whose obvious um...assets...are distracting.