"In a deflationary economy, people always buy LESS of your stuff and you have no idea if that's happening"

[citation needed]

Where did I trip up?

The fact that you need a citation to realize that in a deflationary system if prices stay stagnant people will consume less by definition. You don't seem to realize that. Deflation means prices are falling. If prices don't fall and the dollar is worth more, people buy less of your stuff. This isn't rocket science. Please stop advocating things you don't even understand.