Strongly disagree. Manufacturing is objectively getting cheaper, faster, and more flexible. There are high tech and high precision processes available at small scale on a wider range of materials for less money than there were 10, 20 or 30 years ago. This trend will continue.

Furthermore, if as you suggest the primary design goal of many products should be that of affordability, then you most certainly have to look deeply at the hardware, as software is not typically a contributor to unit costs (excepting weird licensing regimens).