For my new apartment I'm working with 2-3 younger carpenters who's design and quality I really like. It is going to be significantly more expensive than the cheapest stuff from retailers, but still a lot cheaper than the overpriced "designer" furniture from big names. Plus I can customize everything to a degree to fit the dimensions of the apartment better. But I reckon depending where you are, craftsmanship has been completely driven out of the market.

I do fully agree with your point about a lot of people not being able to afford nice stuff upfront and often ending paying more more over the lifespan of the item. But I also think it is also an issue of consumerist societies where people rather want a 100 cheap things and replace them often, rather than 10 nice and long lasting ones.

Then there I think is also a matter of perceived value of especially furniture. I know many not rich but affluent people that don't bat an eye shelling out a lot of money for some electronic gadget or expensive traveling every other year but won't invest in a piece a furniture that could last a lifetime.

So we end up with either cheap mass produced stuff or designer ware for people for whom money doesn't matter. With little choice in between.