Hey Matt, I agree with you and in fact I don't think that "rational" and "irrational" are appropriate without taking the concepts of "Economic Utility" into account.It seems to me what you are identifying is different levels of deliberation.
Some of our decisions involve less deliberation. We grab that bag of chips at the checkout counter because, hey, I feel like eating those chips.
That doesn't make it "irrational" though. It would only be irrational if taking that action would not in fact fulfill that desire, or perhaps it would somehow thwart some overriding goals you have for yourself. Like if you have just found out from the doctor your arteries are clogged and if you want to avoid dying from a heart attack you need to cut out eating all that junk, and you truly want to become healthy, then grabbing the bag of chips could be irrational with respect to that more important goal.
But I don't see how that is likely the case for something like wanting a better TV, or enjoying vinyl records or whatever. So long as they increase your pleasure and add to your well being, without being a net loss in terms of wider goals you have for your life.
Utility in Economics Explained: Types and Measurement
Utility is an economic term referring to the satisfaction received from consuming a good or service.
www.investopedia.com
In economics, utility is a term used to determine the worth or value of a good or service. More specifically, utility is the total satisfaction or benefit derived from consuming a good or service. Economic theories based on rational choice usually assume that consumers will strive to maximize their utility.