Well wire-bond (within IC packages) is a form of welding, so it's not so uncommon.. Also the electrodes within a vacuum tube were all welded. Also wire welding is very common (it's the main technique) in automobile wiring harnesses.

Suppose you had an old radio made with all welded construction. I wonder if service would be easier or harder? There is no un-welding (so you'd have to cut the broken component out), but making the new weld is faster than soldering.