That's exactly what it looks like from the outside. But it isn't. It's just human beings adapting to their environment. This tendency is why maintaining a sense of awe and gratitude toward life is such a major component of spiritual thought.

but discontent is what drives the progress - people feeling satisfied all the time would basically not produce new stuff to fill the constant black hole of desire and wants.

without discontent, no one would care about the lack of progress. :)

technically correct...the best kind of correct :)

i totally agree, and i furthermore think (but cannot prove) that the traditions of buddhism and confucianism that pervade asian societies to varying degrees may be responsible for their lack of entrepreneurial activity, which ultimately hurts their economies. buddhism encourages you to be satisfied with your life without desiring more, and confucianism encourages you to fit in rather than to stand out, which is why, for example, japanese companies very frequently hire CEOs who are foreigners - very few japanese people have the inclination to stick their necks out.