But he apparently lost that battle, and as you say, it’s very hard to resist, which is why, although I don’t like it, I think a mountain is being made of a molehill. A bochur wanting a Borsalino, in the reality we live in, is not optimal, but is not indicative of extreme decadence on his part.
I rather see it as a sign of the “extreme decadence” of our reality/society (American Yeshivish), instead of the individual. It is not a battle that we will win. We had our chance with wedding Takanos, and when the Olam saw that there were “exceptions”, the whole thing fell apart. We will not get another chance any time soon.
So yes, big picture it is not worth harping on. Better to work on shidduchim for girls who are looking to get married.