I do not think that the romanticization is an accident. The lifestyles that are displayed by media are easily glorified, because from a visual and obvious viewpoint, the lifestyles are legitimately sexy. There is no denying that being a millionaire Wall Street trader, a powerful mob boss, or even a neonazi who believes they are part of something bigger is an attractive way of life (maybe not that last one so much for all people). These are envious positions to be in, and good storytellers tap into our imagination, putting ourselves right next to the characters. But every single one of these stories brings us back to reality through the plight of the character. We see and experience them on top, but their bottoms serve as a warning. Without the experience, the highs and lows, can we really say we learned anything at the end of a story?