[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Increasingly complicated products, stiff competition for low prices. We are at the intersection point.

exactly.

Although from a certain point of view, I suspect stuff is probably, on the whole, far more reliable today, than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago.

My last PC was over 8 years old when I replaced it. And it was still working. I wiped it and reinstalled windows and gave it to my son. As far as I know, it's still working. My TV is a 46" Samsung that's 13-14 years old. It works as well today as it did when new.

Cars are far more reliable now than they were in the 80s and 90s, I think.

So yes, lots of stuff is now disposable because it's not made in a way that some parts are easily fixed/replaced, but most of the stuff also lasts pretty well. The bigger problem these days is obsolescence due to the march of technology.