That's the point. To the customer the pocket is all that matters.

Reducto Ad absurdum: if you break a bowl, do you spend time learning how to glue back the pieces, take it to a shop expert to repair, or simply go to any store and buy a new bowl for $5-10 (Assuming it's at least a decent porcelain bown)? Option 1 will take a lot of time and have a flimsy result, option 2 may cost $100+ upfront, so would only be used for a truly extravagant bowl or something.

well, our lawnmower is metaphorically $5 here, not 500. I see prices around $200 for cheaper lawnmowers, so paying $200/year isn't that much more expensive than say, paying a neighborhood kid $15 every month to mow the lawn.

9 months x $15 = 135. Even at double or triple, It's still a better deal and less hassle than having to juggle junk mowers every season just because they can't be bothered to learn simple hygiene/maintenance.

Also, I've done the bowl repair you mention here a few times actually.

If 200$ is reasonable price point. We can ask what is the normal rate of people who repair lawnmowers? How many hours you can actually buy with it? 2? 4? and then we aren't even at parts. Are they available, what is the lead time?

Labour costs are likely so high now that just replacing something makes lot more sense. And you get certainty that it works.

Also shouldn't there be some sort of warranty? At least for year or two?