"Zynga makes games that create no value." - I don't think that's true. They create games that I don't particularly enjoy, but some people do. And according to an earlier article, they do extract a pretty significant amount of revenue from those users.

I don't really think most startups are based around a paradigm shift either. Google = a better search engine than was available. Facebook = a better(?) social network than was available. Intel = a better semiconductor manufacturer.

I agree that there are harder problems out there that need to be solved. But most of those can't be solved by a couple of programmers in their apartments. Better music discovery and photo organization can.

I don't think denigrating success with hyperbole is a good way to make a point about what startups should be focused on.

I am not "denigrating success". I simply don't agree they are (or ever going to be) successful as a businesses.

I agree, paradigm shift was not the best phrase to explain my point.