> How the heck is mixing a special powdered drink any easier

Surprising as it may sound, making it just a little harder to prepare can make us value it more (we tend to value our own work). I remember reading about a case of one batter mix that ended up selling more than the "just add water" mixes by asking in the instructions to add the eggs and milk.

> a can of oysters and a can of sauerkraut

that sounds like an awful diet