> A lot of capitalism apologists assert capitalism is there to meet people's needs,

An apologist here. "Capitalism" is a legion - a near continuum of systems - some of them can meet people's needs quite well.

> but that's only true under certain conditions which are not guaranteed. That goal is not part of its programming.

It's not an intrinsic part of its popular tradition but there's noting preventing us from adding it to the program in some sensible manner. The lack of guarantees isn't mandatory either, such can be added within the framework of capitalism.