Another really great example which works exactly the same is shaving soap. Shaving soap is more environmentally friendly (because it doesn't require an aerosol can etc) lasts way longer and is therefore tons cheaper than shaving creme. It also actually gives you a better shave, which is why if you go to a barber and get a shave it's what they use. But the vast majority of people use shaving creme because that is marketed and shaving soap is not. As a student I had a bar of shaving soap that literally lasted me more than a year shaving every day. Presumably companies realised they can make a much better business by encouraging people to buy an inferior product with higher margins that doesn't last as long.