I do think, the buddhist are on to something , i will not agree on 'disire being the root ' thow...
Im with you, middel ground seems fare enuff, i think desire also helps us push forward, come up with new thingg; be inventive; AND that is the benefits of being human, our will to move forward :D

Yeah i do to, i dooo see a lot of 'need' from my self, BUT i can pause and see that its juust a thingi i have for that specific moment, so i can move along and leave that 'need' alone ;)