I’m not sure I’d conflate less material goods with lesser quality of life.
I think the quality of life is objectively better in most of (western) Europe. Maybe for software engineers in specific it’s worse.
He's not conflating fewer material goods with lower quality of life.
He's conflating lack of things which provide life experiences with lower quality of life.
Not having AC absolutely sucks when the weather's over 30. Not having a house with a backyard and a swimming pool means you can't have people over for a pool party (experience, not material good). Etc.
If you kept on that line of logic, a PlayStation 5 and an espresso machine are also "not material goods" and are ways to create experiences, and I can't actually tell where that line of thought stops.
For the espresso machine, it's an "experience machine" if you're a espresso aficionado. If you're getting it to show off and barely use it, it's a "material good".
I'd draw the line like this: if it makes you personally feel good many times, through your interaction with the thing, it's worth buying. If it's just/primarily to show off, then it's a "material good". Unless you have some sort of personality disorder where you feel good by showing your stuff off repeatedly to acquaintances.
Only if you are used to air conditioning. Otherwise it’s just a hot day.
Not having a pool means you do a barbeque party instead. Not that you have no party at all.