I appreciate it. I also enjoy disproving absolutes.

However, it's impossible to say where or how Marcus Aurelius gained his insight - while he most certainly had an easier life than the average Roman he did at least suffer health problems, it seems like. He had 13 progeny and only 5 survived, although that may be standard for the time. Also:

Marcus took up the dress and habits of the philosopher: he studied while wearing a rough Greek cloak, and would sleep on the ground until his mother convinced him to sleep on a bed.

It seems likely to me that Marcus sought out what 'hardship' that he could, seeing an inherent value in it, as opposed to having it thrust upon 'im. To be fair that distinction wasn't drawn during this discussion and there's certainly a different flavor to such experience, in that you can opt to stop 'handships' you willingly undertake at any point in time. You have the luxury of being in control, I guess.

He seemed to feel that there was value in earned experience and therefore sought it - so, perceiving that such experience had value was not sufficient for him. It wasn't enough for him to intellectually be aware of an ascetic lifestyle, he chose to follow and live it.

I think the personality that sees value in denying oneself things, or "the easy way out," or so on, leads to the same personality that would try to rule justly and with wisdom.