But doesn't God honor people's free will? Doesn't he let people experience the consequences of their mistakes? If God answered their prayers, they would have no incentive to abandon their "completely messed up" understanding of God. God ignores their prayers out of respect for their freedom and for their own good, as correction. Furthermore, God mostly ignores prayers anyway, so they're really no worse off than the rest of us. Thankfully God has equipped us all to make our way in this world without needing a lot of supernatural intervention. At the end of the day, we all get by.
Truth is, we don't exactly get by without intervention. This world could blow up tomorrow. Every day we live is a day of mercy. We have no idea how many times God does intervene in the lives of those who ask him, and more importantly, for those who don't. He helps them anyway, because He loves all. Few it seems, look for his hidden hand, much less thank him for it.
We need to count our blessings and thank God more. If we did, we would be happier with what we have every day...at the very least the gift of life. I can't tell you how many times God has bailed me out of a jam, but I can tell you I am thankful He did!