What factors caused this shift? Are there general-purpose computers that come with more tactile controls (think OP-1 synth level controls)?
Honestly most professionals probably don’t need that level of quality. I’d even go as far in saying if you need tools that reliable and expensive then likely they would almost never be for personal use. It comes down to consumers needing to understand the quality of the products they buy should only match their use expectations. Over-engineering an object is a waste of resources, and processes like injection molding aren’t nearly as bad for the environment as the public may think as long as the objects are useable to someone.