I don't know if you read my, or anyone's comments. Civilizations are primarily driven by psychological and social needs. Every civilizations seems to follow the pareto curve in wealth distribution. When faced with problems, the top 20% horde (part of my latest story) and the bottom 80% begin to disappear first in violence, then war, later starvation.

Second, there is already proof in what you say if one looks at copper (which continue to rise in price) and scrap metal and ESPECIALLY energy formed metals. That is, objects like hooks, anchors, large industrial stamping machinery. If energy was growing those rusty machined parts would become landfill, like plastic. But it's not. The energy needed to create the molds, dies, etc., are baked into the large steel hook, or machinery. That's why they retain their value--cost of replacement energy. In my last story I point out an old oil drilling rig that $30,000 made in 1976. No one would buy it for show. It's value is in utility, in the energy stored in it needed to mine more energy.