I think it's fair to say that North American consumers (and indeed those of most of Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.) are not accustomed to systematic, broad-cast shortages of anything; so when it happens, something has changed and one wants to know what's going on.
This article sounds like the Author is still stuck in 2006 or 2007.
Have you realised that we are in the still ongoing deepest ecconomic crisis since at least 80 years? (The verdict is still out on the 80 years, it might become "ever"). That Greece (Europe) is right now on the brink of financial collapse that would send the world ecconomy into a second tail spin, that might make Lehmans and aftermath look like a child's play?
That we do not know yet if the "remedies" of the first crisis (i.e. printing money like there is no tomorrow) will have helped or really cause problems which are on a magnitude worse?
That there are 44 million US citicens on food stamps which is nearly 14% of the population?
That there are hundreds of thousands in emerency shelters in Japan because their homes have been destroyed by earthquake, flood, or will not be inhabitable ever again because of radioactive contamination?
And now Mr. Dubovy realises that there must be something wrong with the world because he can not immediately buy the camera he wanted?
Hmmmm!
Mr. Dubovy is clearly a talented fellow, and he has written some excellent and provocative stuff. However, this article strikes me mostly as a juvenile rant provoked by frustration at not being able to instantly obtain what he wanted.
Mr. Duboyv strikes me as an artistic character who is deeply engulfed in his own artistic world, and quite ignorant about what's going on in the rest of the universe. I kow a number of artists like that and they are quite gentle, friendly and well meaning characters. I hope he has some good friends who advise him to refrain from publishing unwisely in the future.
I honestly hope that Greek and US and Japan debt can be brought under control, that hyper inflation can be avoided, that the nuclear plant in Japan is finally brought into a controlled state, and that the victims of the ecconomic, natural and political disasters that have plagued the world in the recent years receive the needed help to be able to rebuild their lives.
At some point in the future the world will find a new normal. I sincerely hope (no sarcasm intended here) that not finding immediately the right camera or lens that we want to buy shall be the worst of our issues then. (That sounds to me like utopian bliss, but one can hope.)