"Little cup of beans? Good God, this is something right out of the Great Depression."
Not exactly. I bet those little bean cups are pretty expensive for the amount they contain. In fact, I think that the fact that someone's coming out with a tiny USB powered microwave co-branded with tiny overpriced convenience food for adults is proof that the economy is doing quite well in spite of itself. Since I know that sometimes store-brand beans are as little as 10 or 15p per can (300g?), and a small dial-type microwave costs as little as $40 here in the US, the Heinz Beanowave is proof that there's still plenty money to waste right now. If the package of bean cups sells for just a quid (and I bet it doesn't), and the little microwave for 30 (probably not), this is a quite expensive thing here.
"Man can not live on beans alone, sometimes he needs a potato, too."
Beanie Weenies made out of Bush's beans and Nathan's or Hebrew National's hot dogs would be pretty damn close to my ideal meal, at least for something under $2.