Houses are built as poorly as legally permissible. The builder is LONG gone by the time something is sold. Production builders spend a LOT of money to design and build houses to EXACTLY the legal minimum.

There is a new building product that is pretty much fancy cardboard that can replace standard housing sheeting. With siding over it and drywall behind it you can't tell it's not wood.

Companies figured out long ago that people look at cost #1 and features number #2.

They are in no way rewarded for making something that cost a little more with less features that lasts longer.

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I have had a basic GE fridge for well over a decade. No ice maker, defrost cycle, or water dispenser. It is a 15 cubic food side by side and has wire shelves. I needed to purchase new door gaskets for it. I spent a few under $200 12 years ago on it.

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I have replaced the compressor once and ice maker twice on my modern LG french door fridge that is 7 years old. It cost about 2000. When I get a new one... it;s going to be the same because the family uses the convenience features. the same ones that make it break.

Red Wing Vintage boots

I have a 1 pair of boots. Safety toe in oiled leather. they are maybe 25 years old at this point.

red wing will still service them, as in patching holes in leather and lining oiling them and giving new laces.

the closest modern style is the Heritage Iron ranger.

No boot should be BIFL but these are DAMN close. These used to be daily wear when I worked construction, went to the summit of a few mountains, and several hundred miles of trail walking. These were my 3 season daily boots for about a decade with Sorrel for the winter.

The OIL leather lasts longer than the finished leather.

I have moved on to office jobs and metallic safety toes shoes are not good for server rooms. I have a pair of 9 year old Allen Edmonds leather,uppers and soles, shoes that I wore nearly exclusively to work for the first 6 years. I picked up a second pair about 3.5 years ago to have a sub out shoes so they last longer.

Shoe trees VASTLY extend the usable life of dress shoes.

I need new heels on my shoes every other year and it's about $20. I just had new soles heals and a restitching done for just under $50 and that was done twice now on the older shoes.