The problem most preppers experience is that the apocalypse is gradual, not sudden. Or, they prepared for the wrong apocalypse. Or, other people are not treating the apocalypse the way they expected / should.

If things get so bad that urban / suburban dwellers are concerned with growing food, things are already pretty messed up. If supermarkets and/or emergency food relief aren’t keeping people fed, then people are going to get desperate. At that point, the people who are OK aren’t the ones who have solar panels, food stores, weapons, and so-on. The people who are OK are the ones who are willing and able to use violence against other people to take their solar panels, food stores, weapons, and so-on. IMO even preppers who own guns and train to use them will often not have the ruthlessness to actually kill someone when push comes to shove, not unless they’ve been trained / brainwashed / traumatized into being able to do that.

So, for me, I keep enough food and drink for a few days. If there’s a situation that lasts longer than that, I also have friends, and will go stay with them if things are better for them. I want enough power so I can keep from getting bored for a few days. I don’t need to be able to run heavy appliances. If civilization collapses, I’m not fooling myself into thinking I can survive that. I’m not a warlord, I don’t know anybody who would become a warlord, I don’t think I could make myself useful to a warlord, and I don’t think I could fight off a warlord and their gang.