Well, here's another way to look at it - why not just get assimilated by the Borg and buy your power off the grid like good Borg do? It's more economically feasible than generating your own power.
No, it's not more economically feasible in my case, nor is it the case for thousands of people who live miles from the nearest power line. It would cost fifty thousand dollars to bring the power in here. I built an off grid system for a fraction of that.
Or does it have to do with a chosen lifestyle and enjoying being independent and not hooked up with the Borg? There are some of us who don't worry about every little nickel and dime because there's more to life than money. If you're happy with a cheap gas burner and buying fossil fuels from the Borg to run it, great. But we're not. For years I told my wife, "Ah, you don't need that stuff." And she never complained. Not once. Her smile and being happy because she finally got a range that she wanted is worth way more than trying to save a few bucks on batteries and buying propane instead.
Well, I enjoy the concept of independence as much as the next guy, but if it costs one hundred thousand dollars to make 10KWhr a day from renewable energy and use a 100% efficient cooking source, or it costs $10 a day to use a 42% efficient cooking source from the Borg. I am going to make my decision based on money. Not because I want to save nickels or dimes, but because it just makes sense to me economically.
Do you mine the lead in your batteries and make the sulfuric acid and buy the oil from Saudi Arabia to make those nifty plastic cases they live in? Do you smelt the copper and draw it into nice even long strands and varnish it so you can build wind turbines?
I agree that there is more to life than money, but money is a pretty nifty thing to have if you need something you can't make for yourself. In my case I choose to buy some propane every year, because it is cheap and it suits my needs. You might choose to buy more welding rod, or more batteries, or a nifty charge controller. Both of us are spending money on things we value, and there's nothing wrong with that.
When you say you enjoy your independence, I believe you think that those of us who use use propane, even modestly, are second class citizens. I feel slighted and annoyed. I wish that you would acknowledge that you are as dependent on society for your needs as the rest of us.