Sure, if things go to shit to the point where I am defending my property, the money wont matter.

But if I have ~$2MM in an index fund just sitting around, even a conservative 7.5% return YOY will afford me $150,000 per year in potential cash to pull out (without depleting the original principle) that nets me 112,500 after the maximum theoretical capital gains (just assume a naïve, flat 25%) which is more than enough to keep the lights on if I own my home, car, and do 90% of building maintenance myself.

The advantage here is that this part of the system is what the ultra wealthy rely on to amass more wealth so it's going to be one of the last institutions in society to fall apart because the wealthy and powerful will fight tooth and nail to make sure they can keep making money.