I have just noticed that there is a hole in my boots.
To test the hypothesis that modern materials science and manufacturing techniques had rendered obsolete Sam Vimes’ famous saying about boots, last autumn I bought the cheapest winter boots available at Walmart.
They are not fashionable, well-fitting, or particularly warm, but they looked indestructible and waterproof — made of seemingly tough material with good think soles. The soles probably are indeed indestructible, but just at the heel where they meet the other part of the boot, some kind of design flaw has resulted in a hole in exactly the same spot on each boot after only one winter of light use.
I will patch them and see if the repair holds next year.
Cool anecdote, bro. Your personal experience trumps empirical evidence of modern companies reducing costs by using cheaper materials for established brands to generate profits.
Man, do you even hear yourself? Log off.
There’s even a term for it: skimpflation. Maybe instead of getting into internet slap fights you instead get yourself educated.