Honest question: If I want the diversity of a Ikea catalogue with higher price and quality, where should I go?
Where I'm at, things like a certain brand's bookshelves can be bought and sold relatively easily, because they're common, strong, practically forever and modular so can be customized to almost anything. They also have a timeless look.
It's everything Ikea is not. Even most of the solid wood Ikea stuff uses is just weak and soft.
Having said that, most new unpainted wood furniture here (not just Ikea) looks terrible because it's filled with knots. That's because of local forestry policy decisions, good quality forests and wood has been destroyed, and the country has been driven to producing low value pulp.
By the way, efficient aftermarkets exist for other things as well, for example musical instruments, because they also don't wear out so much in amateur use, or at least the wearing parts should be replaceable.
It brings satisfaction to me to use, own, buy or sell a good product that is designed and manufactured to last.
There is definitely a gulf between Ikea (bad quality, good design, $) and DWR-tier places (good quality, good design, $$$$). Muji maybe, if they happen to make something in the niche you're looking for.
As the owner of several Muji items (trash cans, silverware holders, rolling storage unit, coasters, dish rack), I have to say while they look nice, they're rarely as well thought-out as Ikea. The trash cans don't seal, and the dish rack can't actually hold plates upright in position.
They don't do furniture, though.