I have similar idea about how things seems fake when I look at shops in an average city.

For example restaurants, or anything that is cooked food. By estimate 10-20% of the price is due to the ingredients, and the rest goes to the vages, rent, and mostly taxes. At that point I am paying for the service, for the vagie that hoppes around me, and not for the food itself. Which makes sense.

I would do this as tourist to get something quick or to try something new. Even then, I will look at the plate and think: "Well, I just got scammed again." It's not even enough to fill me up, and I can do much better, in every aspect, if I cook myself.

But I see it as a failure on the part of the other participant is the market and not neccesarily a fault of the system; other buyers who have different preferences (due to culture or their own stupidity). They like to buy this, and dislike to buy something else. So I will adjust my behavior acordingly.