You’re missing the whole point. Think about it another way: You listed things that go down in value or get used up. They listed things that appreciate in value and build wealth.
You’re comparing (barely) being able to afford the cheap iPhones and gas to an education and homeownership.
Exactly. It is getting more common to set up non-profit foundations in such situations. Disclosure: There’s a lot of legal stuff I don’t understand but I think the idea is that by having a non-profit entity that is focused on the “mission” and not profits, they will be more able to make the good long-term, decisions a founder might make instead of whatever makes investors the most money.