I totally agree with your view point, "the consolation prize" and yet we are happy!! WHY? because ours(yours too) society is founded like that...."when ones need is small we tend to be more happy!!"  (Ignorance is Bliss remember :-) [Just read about MASLOW's Pyramid]

You, me and Them we all belong to different society, our needs are different and our definition for Suffering is different. (remember we all fall in different steps of MASLOW's PYRAMID)

Well "Ignorance has been Bliss" for MANY, its the degree of Ignorance that varies!!

Also I can say with HIGH PROBABILITY , the Smile and hospitality you received was GENUINE and was not ACT!!

memory erasing medicine would be popular no doubt (look how popular is
anti depressant in America), rather than finding the ROOT CAUSE of the
PROBLEM, they are just covering the symptoms!!

As you are a Doctor, I would recommend you to do research on, WHY is CONSUMPTION OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT IS SO HIGH in America?