>Ethics were not compelling enough for most people

This matches my experience with people, including myself. I think it's about the feedback. The price pain or the energy pain is readily and immediately felt, whereas ethics violations are not, as people are shielded from the impact externally, and have many defenses against it internally as well.

Even 29 years ago, my wife did not want a diamond because she didn't want a fruit of oppression, slavery and murder on her finger.