I agree, to an extent.
My wife and I claimed $296,000 last year. My wife makes about $42,000. I own a small metal fabrication company with profits about $200,000 last year, and payroll of about $54,000 for myself. I paid about $55,000 into taxes, so it looks like I can just walk away with $150,000 at the end of the year but it didn't work that way. The company needs operating money. I took out around $10,000 to cover my Roth and throw some in another investment account.
We live ok, but nothing lavish. A house worth half our towns average ( ours is around 100k). Newer car, but a Subaru, not a BMW or some high dollar model.
So $200,000 didn't mean some extravagant lifestyle of the rich.