I already understand that "value" can be generated regardless of how much currency is available. Why is everyone here on HN in a rush to ignore that currency exchange is a zero-sum game and keeps trumpting that wealth can be generated? Perhaps it is because Paul Graham wrote that article.

Wealth is a different subject from currency. You can generate all the "wealth" in the world, and if there is only $100 circulating in the world, all that "wealth" isn't magically going to expand this $100 except when you convince the government to print more money.

This has important limitations on the liquidity of your "wealth". Let's say that you've created $1 quadrillion worth of meat. You want to convert this into alternative forms of wealth such as currency and medical supplies. However, is it at all likely that you will be able to convert all this wealth before it expires? Nope. And this is one of the most important distinctions between wealth and currency.

The supply of currency is artificially limited by the government, while the supply of wealth is an arbitrary measure that people decide to assign their work and belongings.