He is comparing apples to oranges. His 2017 prices are for upper tier. You can get cheaper with more features than in 1976.
how many features do you really need? More features just means more things to break and a shorter replacement cycle.
Exactly. Today’s appliances are far superior to those of 40 years ago. Same goes for automobiles. Do I need to mention computers, or consumer electronics?
Bells and whistles are not required. Most importantly, Stainless Steel is not required
Yep. Today you can buy a 18 cu ft Frigidaire with no ice maker and no water dispenser (just like we had in 1976) for well under $500. Same with microwaves, dishwashers, all appliances, really.
The entire thesis of this article is incorrect. A more accurate measurement is how many hours does the average middle class man need to work to afford these items. In 1968, a color TV might have been 3 months salary. It was also expected to last for 15-20 years.
Today, a 65" 4K TV might cost 2 weeks salary and when it breaks in 5 years, it is already outdated and cheaper to buy a new one than fix it.
The biggest difference is that the one you bought in 1976 will still be running, outlasting the new one while the 2017 model will be dead soon after warranty expires or you will have spent many times the original cost of the thing to keep it working.
After the third circuit board failure in my front loader washing machine I threw it out and replaced it with a nice old one that I bought used. I no longer have washing machine failures. I will make an exception for Bosch dishwashers though. They seem to be pretty well built.