"'For the dogs' has a whole new meaning"

This article does a good job outlining exactly how silly some of our decisions regarding our pets really are, but then what is the line between silly and warranted animal products.   

I found this article particularly interesting as I come from the perspective of an environmentalist and a pet owner. Many of the products and perspectives that Martin looks at would not be out-of-place in an environmental agriculture debate. Both subjects wrestle with the question, is "the best" worth it? I have a friend that only eats all natural, free range, organic, it goes on and on, I'm not supposed to eat that noodle, or this vegetable but when it comes to her cat anything goes. He gets the cheap stuff, full of artificial flavors and binding agents, the opposite of what she consumes. Does this mean she doesn't love her cat? 

I don't think so, he appears healthy and content, but how do we really know? In the post "Pets as children" wonders, is it more for our human gratification? I would say at lest some part of our pet products are for us, and I think part is for our pet, however I have no idea how much is for each. I have a rabbit and he loves food, I know I give him much more than he needs. I very often say that I stress feed my rabbit, and I know it's almost all for my pleasure. He always keeps eating but I know he doesn't need the food. My rabbit is also a picky eater, such as he only eats brand name oatmeal, uncooked and only the "old-fashioned" kind, if you try to give him anything else he will not eat.  Which bring me back to my first question, is "the best" worth it? My rabbit will not eat organic oatmeal, so should I feed him the regular kind that he likes or should I cut that out of his diet completely? Its his favorite treat and he would be crushed if I stopped giving it to him but he probably shouldn't be eating it anyways. Its fattening, not good for the environment, and doesn't offer any form of nutritional value. 

This raises the question, is short-term enjoyment or long-term wellbeing better? Each of us ask this question before we eat anything, and the answer to this question dictates a lot of what we eat; so shouldn't we ask ourself this question when feeding our pets as well?