I think you're right--particularly w/ regards to consumer expectations being low. I'm a part of this problem as well--when making purchases, price is almost always the deciding factor.
It's also worth noting that "as good as possible" and "as good as profitably possible" aren't just two flavors of the same principle w/ regards to quality--they're directly at odds. I'll prove this (with scientific finality) via an anecdote about toys.
My kiddo was gifted a little Fisher-Price school bus that was made in 2005.[0] It's pretty neat! As you roll the bus forward, some internal mechanism causes the driver to turn left and right (making it look like they're turning the steering wheel back and forth), and the passenger seats to move up and down (a dope allusion to the classic kid's song, 'The Wheels on the Bus', in which, as the wheels of the bus go 'round and 'round, the people on the bus go up and down). It's clear that this product was lovingly designed, with playful curves and playful details, like the face of the bus. The wheels not only have hub caps, but the shape of the tires even mimic a pneumatic bulge! The space inside of the bus is even big enough to accommodate human hands!
More recently, she was gifted a newer version of the same toy.[1] It's smaller in every dimension, and flimsier. The slick design is gone, replaced by simple, boxy one. The little things that I loved about the old bus are gone--the wheels are now a single piece of plain molded plastic. While the wheels of the bus still go round and round, the people on the bus, alas, do not go up and down.
It's fine, as far as toys go--the kid probably doesn't notice a difference. But it's clear that the guiding principle in the evolution of this product is not only not quality, but something that is directly in conflict with quality.
It's also worth noting that "as good as possible" and "as good as profitably possible" aren't just two flavors of the same principle w/ regards to quality--they're directly at odds. I'll prove this (with scientific finality) via an anecdote about toys.
My kiddo was gifted a little Fisher-Price school bus that was made in 2005.[0] It's pretty neat! As you roll the bus forward, some internal mechanism causes the driver to turn left and right (making it look like they're turning the steering wheel back and forth), and the passenger seats to move up and down (a dope allusion to the classic kid's song, 'The Wheels on the Bus', in which, as the wheels of the bus go 'round and 'round, the people on the bus go up and down). It's clear that this product was lovingly designed, with playful curves and playful details, like the face of the bus. The wheels not only have hub caps, but the shape of the tires even mimic a pneumatic bulge! The space inside of the bus is even big enough to accommodate human hands!
More recently, she was gifted a newer version of the same toy.[1] It's smaller in every dimension, and flimsier. The slick design is gone, replaced by simple, boxy one. The little things that I loved about the old bus are gone--the wheels are now a single piece of plain molded plastic. While the wheels of the bus still go round and round, the people on the bus, alas, do not go up and down.
It's fine, as far as toys go--the kid probably doesn't notice a difference. But it's clear that the guiding principle in the evolution of this product is not only not quality, but something that is directly in conflict with quality.
[0] https://www.ebay.com/itm/304338207633 [1] https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-People-Sit-With-Me-School-...