In my mind it's more about profiteering. Manufacturers are cutting down on product cycle times and testing is more and more performed via computer simulators which are programmed by folks that don't understand the full extent of the working environments that their products will go in to. Blame can be placed on consumers for "taking all the bait," which only helps encourage such manufacturing processes. Competition for market share is all about dangling ever-shinier things to consumers. One could say that with less competition such practices could be reduced (and, well, I'll suggest that this will be the case but ->), yet that's where we are now and that's not really happening: it's due to a push for more profits. Vicious cycle going on. There's no longer additional up-tapped markets such that startups can squeeze in to get some bit of share: the majors control the markets, and with their political influences only ensure that they stay in such positions.
A few years ago I heard how great Samsung appliances were. We bought a washing machine and then a refrigerator. The washer gave up not long after warranty and they had redesigned it and the whole internal tub assembly had to be replaced and was going to cost almost $1200. Replaced the whole washer instead. Just yesterday the refrigerator started acting up again. Already replaced some parts in it and the ice maker twice. The fridge has a center drawer and stuff in it started freezing but it's no supposed to. It a common failure with these and $350 to fix if you do all the work. Never again will I buy samsung. I also learned that french door refrigerators have the worse longevity ratings. I am now reluctant to put any more money in the fridge. An appliance repair guy online told me to buy a new one and get the simplest one you can get. Makes sense to me.
Totally agree. This has been a HUGE question of mine vis a vis emissions stuff on vehicles. There's a reasonable intent but as humans are want to do, we hide the "bad parts" in order to make things look good. Summed in one word (and it's always been this, it's just that now days its execution requires more complex means/tricks/slight-of-hand in order to achieve): EXTERNALIZATION [of costs].
My dad owned & operated the local drugstore with a soda fountain and a big chip ice maker. When we were growing up he would come rushing through the house door Monday thru Saturdays at 7:05 pm with a dripping melting paper bag of ice for use at suppertime. Plop it would go into the dish rack beside the kitchen sink. Let’s eat!One thing I remember about childhood is how rare it was to have ice, and what a pain it was to have to fill the ice-cube trays. And, there was never enough ice if we had company.
We use quite a bit of ice at home. I like my ice mint sun tea and my wife likes to sip a cold beverage while she works from home. We also hard-boil a lot of eggs and use that for the cool down. We've had an ice maker in the fridge freezer for 27 years. I won't be without one every again.
