Yes, you are right on with this.
I'm doing my small share to combat it. I got fed up with the nastiness of the guy on the side on American Idol or something like that, so cancelled the cable in about 2003 or so. Never missed it yet. I do get my home town paper and our local one.
As for keeping track of what I buy, I try to use cash as much as possible, Debit cards next, and absolutely refuse store credit cards. I feel that they keep way too close an eye on what I buy, which is my own business.