don't you think there is a reason we have progressed this far?
probably because people sat around going, "this sucks; i wish i was warm" or,"this sucks; i wish i had a way to take care of this bleeding, pus-filled abcess in my gums".
granted, we are over developed and what not, but do you think for a second that some raggedy-ass dirt farmer who couldn't hope to live past the age of thirty would choose to go back to a life that was nasty, brutish, and short if you showed him what we have now?
medicine to heal your sick child- yes, there are plenty of major problems w/ the medical industry and plenty of naturally occuring medicines, but still, peeps just didn't live that long or have great access to these medicines.
houses/buildings- yeah, i hate suburban sprawl, but have you ever spent a cold night in the woods? it sucks unless you got the right gear.

balance is the only constant. you can't have utopia without some distopia. you can't have plenty without scarcity. nature just doesn't work like that.