Make something people need. That beats "make something people want" any day of the week. Apologies to PG, but it should be "need". Want is transient; need isn't.
It's all fun and games to tell other people to make something targeted at "customers with their hair on fire", but in reality most people's basic needs are met. Are there any "needs" that you have that aren't being satisfied right now? In many cases it's best to make something people want first and get them so used to using it that they really NEED it.
As an example, did anyone really need email before it became ubiquitous? Or was it something that a few people wanted that became an absolute need after it achieved mass adoption?
OK, point taken; I need a better word than 'need'. How about "Make something people could really use?" I think this is just all about semantics, really. PG probably means the same thing I do. It's just that "want" evokes javascript solitaire games with emergency fake-spreadheet Boss Buttons. And often, people don't know what they want until you tell them. :-)
People most often buy things they want ahead of what they need, unless it's food and shelter. And even then, they usually want a type of food or shelter that they don't really need, and will buy it even when they can't afford it.
I agree with you on principle, but in today's society (which could be arguably described as hedonistic) people often seem to choose something they want over something they need.
