It's a little frustrating how really I can look at a website or product line and reliably make a judgment like "they made a good product in gen 1/2, but now they're in the gen 3/4 cash out phase where they cut costs and make huge margins on the product before their reputation catches up with the new cost-cutting." It shows how often I see it.
My wife and I are missing some significant things in our apartment, but I intend to keep dragging my feet so I can acquire high-quality things as I get the time to research and the money to buy them. Disposable crap isn't worth my time.
Then again, maybe all the mid-30-something's here are laughing at me right now because I'm just doing what everyone does once they mature and become experienced.