There’s a lot of good thoughts here, but don’t forget the effect that rationalization as a coping mechanism has on behavior.

For example if restaurants were so expensive growing up that they never got to go, they have the choice of feeling like they are missing out or rationalizing that what they have is better to stop wanting the things they can’t have.

Later when there are affordable restaurants, they still carry that rationalization with them and may not even realize it. They may actually believe it at this point.

Not saying this is the case with your parents, but this kind of thing happens all the time in every culture.