Final answer:
Max is concerned that the family's new automated house is contributing to emotional detachment and issues within the family, making the parents feel replaced and questioning the benefits of high-tech conveniences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Max is expressing concerns about the new high-tech house and its potential negative impact on the family dynamics. He hints at problems such as the children's growing secrecy and disobedience, along with a sense of redundancy and unease felt by the adults in the family, who are being replaced by the house's automated features.
The house was supposed to help the children work off their emotional problems in a healthy way, but Max is beginning to doubt this. The house's automation makes the parents feel unnecessary, as they see themselves being substituted in their roles. The text suggests that although the house provides every convenience, it may also contribute to a sense of displacement and a breakdown in family communication and structure.
Overall, Max is conflicted about the decision to purchase the house, as he feels it is contributing to a lack of connection and control within the family. The reliance on automation and the attempt to fulfill every desire through technology seems to be creating as many issues as it supposedly resolves.