Many people experience this but spend many thousands more on a vehicle lease and have to nothing to show for it afterwards

True. I think that's something many are ok with - but the transportation is a service, not much different than Uber. Which arguably is a more correct mental model of car-having vs. being fooled to any degree into viewing the car as an investment.

The need is "transportation" -- you have a number of ways to rent that transportation (bus, train, cab, Uber, rent-a-car, lease) or you can buy a depreciating asset (car) that cuts your per-mile cost slightly from the renting options.

And in the case of my Apple Music subscription I have to make peace with it being an entertainment service that I don't get to keep any physical or digital manifestations of after I stop paying. Like a movie ticket.