[NeedMoreTea]

Seems like it's more an economics issue than technology. We're already most of the way there as seen by the sheer quantity of throwaway product - where it's cheaper to make another than allow repair and maintenance. (I'm ignoring DRM on repairs - that's a different issue).

We could probably have post-scarcity as Keynes envisaged right now if we hadn't created rampant throwaway consumerism along with increase in capability post WW2. The moment an issue is "solved" fake problems will be invented to sell a needless alternative. e.g. The creation and marketing of liquid soap that's worse in essentially all respects to bar soap, or the whole creation of body and looks insecurity to sell a cosmetic or cream.

So, surely in x years when technologically we're able to achieve post-scarcity it'll just spawn another fake solution to another fake problem? Another reason to keep working 40 hrs instead of dropping to 20.

Maybe it can truly appear after World War 3, the banking and finance wars.

[mmirate]

You're thinking solely about materials, and thusly forgetting about energy. (So did Star Trek, I reckon, but I degress.)

Humans require a timely supply energy to live and act. Converting energy into human-usable form, requires energy. Recycling and remanufacturing require energy just like mining and "unsustainable" manufacturing do. And even renewable sources can collectively provide only a finite amount of energy per unit time.