i think the paragraph about the women and men's appearances show his distain at people going to great lengths to look good while sacrificing comfort. And age is a big factor because it adds to the lack of comfort. Does he mean to say as you get older it is harder to appear put-together, and that this is inevitable? He hates this. He'd rather kill than see suffering.
He is disgusted in a not pitying but almost angry way, because deep down he cares about these older people and wish they would live their lives more freely instead of predictable, like a traffic signal. Are we to believe he himself does not believe in advertisements or celebrate holidays? It's likely, as with his hermit lifestyle he is his own man.
I stopped reading when I came back, mostly because I lent Selina Annihilation and Kevin Sputnik Sweetheart. When I get those back I'll read them. Or I'll borrow some margaret atwood. I'm excited to read Ariel by Sylvia Plath for school, though.