|
I expect this is only part true.
In the 90's, cars (supposedly) needed frequent spark plugs, wires, distributor caps, valve lash, 3,000 mile oil changes, etc. so people were frequently under the hood, keeping an eye on things. The maintenance needs were much higher. Toyota made 4 speed automatic transmissions that would outlast their frames (lol) but if you look at most any other manufacturer (aside form maybe Honda), reliability has mostly gone up, while maintenance has gone down.
In the 90's and early 2000's, computers had an expected lifespan of 2-4 years. Maybe they'd continue running longer, but hardware was improving so rapidly, people hardly held on to them for longer. Plus, Windows installations would "rot" and you'd basically need a reformat every few years, even if you didn't replace the machine.
The last couple of phones I've had, I've kept longer than any (smartphone) I've owned before, so the reliability expectation is much higher. Plus it may not be fair to compare a flip phone with a modern smartphone, as the functionality is not 1:1.
I'll admit that I'm a bit wary of things like heat pump dryers, even if, on paper, they make a lot of economic sense, even assuming they fail every few years. I don't love the consumerist disposable device culture we have, but it exists for a reason - societal incentives create this.
|