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I don't want quality in everything I buy. Heck, VCR's should be cheap and not last decades. I don't want to have to keep it! I have tons of high-quality clothes that are in supeb condition, and hopelessly out of style. Now, I only buy high-quality timeless pieces. For anything "stylish" I go cheap as it's susally out of style at about the same time it wears out anyway.
Cars! Consumers today like to change cars every 2-3 years. Leasing has saved the automobile business. And if you think about it, this is nothing new. My grandfather bought a new car every 1-2 years, and many people did in his day. Mercedes was the "contrarian" point of view. They were the Saville Row suit that was made to last 20 years, and NOT be out of style in two.
Cameras are moving to digital, and I like it, in certain circumstances. Our new digital camera (Nikon 5700) has amazing resolution and incredible storage. I love that shots that don't meet my expectations are chucked. BUT...
My 1972 Pentax Spotmatic has better optics (depite it's not-top-of-the-line-status-in-1972) and with full manual exposure, offers me a great deal more creative control. It has a brass body that will hold up to my grandkids using it when they come along in 30 years. It's durable, reliable, and after 32 years, just like the day my Dad bought it.
I want Mercedes to stop making Gap-style Jeans and bell-bottom pants, but maybe the reality of the car biz is that if they don't, they'll die. The market may not be deep enough anymore for non-stylish against the trend cars. I'm not sure. Heck, Porsche, the contrarian maker's maker is now selling Cayennes almost exclusively, with cars barely making a dent anymore.
Maybe there are just too few of us left?
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