Better to be pointless than actively evil, like convincing people to buy things they don't need.

The question is whether the garbage that gets visibility thanks to marketing is more or less vital and useful than the stuff we would lose if marketing was not a thing.

I think it is fair to argue that word of mouth, good prices and quality rpoducts would thrive more often without marketing, compared to brightly coloured, cheaply made, nonsense that is easy to sell

That sounds like it is pointless with extra steps