Ask HN: Do ideas really need to solve a "problem"?

Granted the answer should be "Yes" and below are B2C examples.

Being a devils advocate for a minute.

Example 1: Square allows you to purchase a coffee without taking your phone or wallet out. If near a Square register, your Square app connects to it. Tell the cashier "My name is Jack Dorsey, you can find me on your screen." Grab coffee and go.

Opposing view: Before you tell someone this concept, were there A LOT of people complaining about taking out their wallet to buy a coffee?

Example 2: Cliche, but speak the simplistic concept of Twitter.

Opposing view: Were people complaining about not having a portal to announce their thoughts?

Example 3: Henry Ford — 'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.'

Just want to illustrate a thought I have. Big companies want to innovate, if they don't see a 'need', they probably cannot extrapolate why. Whereas a 'disillusion' startup founder tries it, strikes gold. Want to hear what people think.