Perhaps you're right about the stories. People don't want to read real life horror stories. I have actually wondered if VR with realistic reconstructions of war might be of value, to shake them up viscerally, which is really where people think from.

Privacy, well I guess it's up to you in that if others are willing to sell themselves you can't stop them but there's a lot to be gained by blocking ads/JS/cookies in your browser and not having a smart phone. Although as ever there's a cost to doing that, one I'm ok with but others aren't. Good luck with whatever you do.