I agree. I was just commenting about the more generic concept of feeling desperate in life and feeling like you need to do something desperate.
I’m not a technical climber, but I’ve heard what you said about Everest not being a technically difficult climb. Sounds like one of the biggest determinants of whether you make it or not is your personal physiology/biology and ability to acclimate to high altitude/low oxygen. Doesn’t matter if you are incredibly strong and fit. If you can’t acclimate, you can’t finish this climb.
I’m sure there are some in the group you describe.
I’ve been on the fringes of the climbing world for some decades, and the general consensus of guides and other high-altitude climbers I’ve talked to or read on discussion boards is that “climbing” Everest attracts a high proportion of rich *ssholes relative to other high mountains.
For some of them their accomplishment is more like being towed up the mountain than climbing it.
As this episode shows, the danger is always there even for them.
Cost varies from $30k to $100k.