[wayner]

It used to be easier to spot quality because the price was an indication

Compare VW and 944 parts, some of which are otherwise interchangeable but with different part numbers ( reflecting a different stronger part)

Or more obviously the stamped steel Japanese or later Chinese products vs machined parts of Porsche and high quality product manufacturers

While marketing always played a role ( and more so today)
Back then price was one indicator of quality since it had to be higher do to cost

Of course the Japanese eventually improved quality with the advent of nc milling machines, advanced manufacturering techniques amortized over large production runs

Meanwhile the Chinese became masters at tin stamped products as reflected by their prices