You're preaching to the choir, AF
When I got the 944, I was as clueless as the next newbie. It was a cheap Porsche, and I didn't realize what I was getting into. I have asked dumb questions, made some dumb mistakes, but learned a lot so far. When I broke my timing belt, that's when i got the startling realizeation: to keep a 944 running, you need a suitcase full of money or you have to become to mechanic. The last two years have been spent fixing all of the problems myself (with help from the board, of course). Even with all of the help and all of the stuff I've already fixed/replaced on the car, I still consider myself a newbie. But, a newbie who is able to learn, willing to get dirty, and not afraid of doing things the slow and expensive, but correct way.
I get mad when people don't take the advice of the board and instead go off on some tangent, wasting more time and money than they would have in the beginning. 944s are expensive, either learn that and live with it, or buy a damn honda!
Your questions:
1. After 20+ years, yeah, I think the cars are showing their age. You don't see many 20 year old cars on the road. period. That you see any is kindof amazing in some ways.
2. yep, I think so. We're spoiled by hondas and chevys that don't require the maintainence that a 944 does.
3. yeah, but with reason
I'd be offended if some idiot took the cheap way out and THEN came back to complain about it. Their friends will only hear that you're a crook, even though they are the stupid asses and you told them specifically what would happen if they went the cheap route.