J_A_B
I think one of the best reasons for cutting consumption right now is cost. We have two gas price threads going, and in both of them we can see quite a few people who are suffering some degree of financial hardship because of the rising prices. It may only be a temporary solution with regard to the world's oil resources becoming depleted, which they eventually will in ~30 years, but it would provide immediate financial relief to those feeling the pinch. I know it will be hard to swallow for some, if their neighbour has a brand new 9mpg (8.3L V10 version) Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck parked on his drive.
You mentioned silverware - I think the quality of furniture is another example. I bought some temporary bedside cabinets about a year ago. They looked OK (pine effect) but they were just chipboard with a pine veneer, and the back was just a piece of hardboard nailed on. They're going! I now have some solid pine unit that my uncle has given me because he no longer needs them. Much better quality, but much older of course.
As for cars, I think the cars we have now are far better than cars like my dad's P4 Rovers of the 1950s, which were quite up market in their day. Now we have much safer cars (crumple zones and all that) collapsible steering column, seat belts, and air bags. Power steering, servo assisted brakes and radial tyres are all pretty much standard these days, as are multi speed wipers with variable intermittent, electronic climate control with air conditioning and a multi speed fan, electric windows, heated rear window, central locking with doors that lock automatically as you pull away, a beefy electrical system with 120 amp alternator , adjustable seats, tinted windows - the list goes on and on. My 2005 car has all of these things. Dad's P4 Rovers had none of these things.