I theorise that it might also lead to a reversal of planned obsolescence and products with a short lifespan. Companies might compete by designing goods based around longevity to justify the higher cost. Household appliances, for example, might be a once in a decade (or longer) purchase as opposed to the throwaway approach.

Sounds like paradise to me.

What screws people without money is the expensive once off things that just always crop up. I have a decent job and I feel the burn, especially now with inflation, a once off surprise expensive can be deadly lately.

The accidental parking fines, the expensive medical bill, the new car tyre, the more expensive electricity etc. This IMO is more likely to create cyclical poverty than the ability to buy cheap things from Walmart(TM).

You can't get something the quality of a smartphone or mirrorless camera assembled in the US for the quality you can in Thailand for any amount of money. Shenzhen is just better at electronics than we are.

Of course, America does produce some of the components going into them, just like Japan and Korea and the UK do.

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2015/09/03/its-expen...

Should descale the Nespresso though…

Yes.

That boiler comes up as over $100 minimum when I google it. I think you missed the part about cost. You can get a 40-cup coffee maker for less than that and still save more time than your Aeropress.