we have to get accustomed to some level of discomfort, otherwise we learn and do very little

It's why you have to let them get hurt (just a little bit, I'm all for actively preventing and/or dissuading activities that could lead to broken bones etc) and sort stuff out themselves and only get an adult if they really can't (which I remember you having written about before).

If they have no exposure to discomfort

I didn't encounter a lot of lawnmower parents in the homeschool groups I was in (all the likes eventually flocked together, the groups I was in preferred being able to tell each others kids off if they were doing something wrong without the instigator kids' parents flying off the handle and the parents that didn't like that didn't last long in the group) but did eventually when my kids started doing more "after school" activities. Kind of thought they were doing their kids a disservice (I'm pretty sure I've told you about the one that wouldn't even say "no" to their kid to not "crush their spirit") but we're not allowed to judge other people's parenting out loud (this counts as out loud so I'm about to get cancelled XD).

many will still believe that the fantasy is the ideal, undermining the experience and lessons provided by reality

We were kind of chasing fantasies well before screens happened. Probably every child thinks they can do "whatever they want" when they're an adult and can't wait (especially after they desperately want something and the adults have said no "for no reason" aka either adults were legit too lazy/couldn't be bothered or their very legitimate reason made no sense or felt irrelevant to the child therefore wasn't a "good" reason) and then they hit adulthood and have to deal with all the nonsense that comes with it but they still keep chasing that "whatever they want" but this time it's surely if they're rich beyond their wildest dreams but reality does kick in eventually.

_{even when one is a narcissist apparently, I remember being somewhat intrigued when I learned about nnarcissistic collapse}

eta because I just registered your last sentence, I'm sure you have met that kind of person before! And if you're implying you are that kind of person well at least you're fun and easy to converse with XD In my experience a lot of that type of person is the opposite x_x