They batter themselves with the vulgar conventions of the world, as do all the other things of the world.

I don't understand the wisdom (?) behind the Daoist useless tree parable. We all have to live in the conventional way, which provides a measure of certainty and ease in our lives. Isn't going with the flow, as in taking up conventions, as much recommended to flourish. We can't really opt out.

If Dao trees of substantial size weren't rare, they be considered an bountiful material by someone. There is always a use for a tree unless the constraint against using it is absolute (law). The specific nature/property of the Dao tree is in question. Is the wood dense or light, rosewood or balsa. What industry/carpenters desires rosewood or balsa for their customers?

Does the Daoist desire a rose wood cabinet?

Ulaanbaatar (Capital of Mongolia) is famous for having the worst air quality. They all burn coal in their yurts and the conventional activity makes for very severe air pollution. What is Daoist solution for fixing such a problem? No one is moving by coal and exclaiming that it is useless, if that amounts to saying that the comfort of warmth in winter time is useless (temperatures dropping to -20 to -40 °C). The coal sellar/buyer (or whoever) does not walk by and exclaim, 'I'd rather have fresh air and be cold as ice', when the air is already choking.

Does a Doaist burn coal in the wintertime?

If they could all engineer Rocket mass heaters and strive to make living quarters insulated, this would be a step in the right direction, assuming the Jevon's paradox doesn't also arise from such a gain in efficiency. If things are too cheap, folks may have larger families, the number of rocket stoves could increase, and the demand for burning coal rises above the original reduction newly gained efficiencies. But likely the Jevon's paradox applies more to advanced technological economies, where all by conservation of personal wealth (by forced stake in all industry) mandates growth.

The useless tree stands until it is used, like useless coal remains in the Earth until used.