> I think they get a bit of a bad rep because, yes you can get a $10 MDF nightstand that will probably last a couple years...

Their Lack coffee table is an iconic POS. It’s almost completely hollow but I’ve seen them last years and it doesn’t look that bad. It’s also really cheap so I’ve seen lots of hacks for it.

I think the hacking is where IKEA really shines. If you’re careful of what you buy, you can reconfigure, paint and chop up their furniture on the cheap and make it your own.