I can't decide if its cutting production costs or companies wanting "essential items" to break so you have to buy a new one. Either way the modern an must own a TV, computer, cellphone, ipod, tablet, video game console, etc. and he will replace anything that breaks. We may not like it but as long as we keep re-purchasing shoddy items we think we cannot live without we'll keep getting shafted. That's partly why I'm pretty much off the grid entirely. A cheap computer, basic phone and old box TV, all of which I use very little, is about as far as I go with electronics since they break so easily and cost so much.