A product can last X years without being something you want to warranty for that time - because "last" can mean "keeps working with maintenance and repairs" vs "works without a hitch for the whole time.

Also, longer warranties can be a selling point (speed queen does this with the same exact internals being sold with a higher warranty on the 'fancier' ones which just add some more features to the board).

And, a company has to hold monies on the books for warranty service, so a defined warranty period that is not unreasonable can help with that.

But the "best" company in a given market only needs to warranty beyond the nearest competitor.

Speed Queen also is implicitly dealing with people who would buy the "lifetime" warranty residential unit and run it in a commercial setting, where the wear parts would wear out.

Loan me a million dollars and I’ll pay you back in 40 years. No? Does that sound meaningless? Thought so.

It sounds like you have a point to make regarding the time value of money? But I'm sorry, I'm not following the connection. Would you mind rephrasing?