You have to be careful with that word, though. I know it sets off my bullshit detector. When I see a Solutions section on a company's website I think, "oh no, they're not going to tell me what they're selling, instead they're going to hand wave and try to tell me about myself."

"It’s a lot like an English essay. You start with a prompt, and then you talk about the prompt for a few pages and at the end of it all you write your conclusion and you realize that the entire essay has nothing to do with the prompt."

I have never had this happen.

I've also never written any software that didn't target a need or want.

Apparently some people do get side-tracked and try to write something that's cool instead of something that's useful and wanted, but I really don't think that's the majority. I think the majority set out to solve a particular problem, do so, and then find out whether people are willing to pay for the solution.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm always happy when I see people who care about the value they provide, and not only about the money they get. For those people I'm happily overgenerous with my money and time.