If dishwashers were invented today they would be rented out to homes and businesses with DRM to lock you into buying approved detergent and tableware. Times change, and more exploitative arrangements are normalized. This ratchet is primed to go in one direction, and only moves the other way in fits and starts borne of great effort.

A lot of the leaders of that century have been going downhill, ever since, e.g. top Japanese manufacturers.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was some plan to generate a subscription model for appliances.

I take it that you have never come across the idea of "planned obsolescence"..

:)