Screwtape2
Blue Crack Addict
This is a great point. The only place where I'd disagree with you is that I really believe that cash flow has nothing to do with it. U2 simply wants to be the biggest and best band in the world. They are extraordinarily ambitious to a (morally questionable) level that does perhaps have too great an influence on the music they are making.
On the other hand, I think U2 is just open and honest about something which many bands feel (i.e. we want to be the best) but simply think it in bad taste to admit to the public.
Cool.