They have 5 year warranties on most of their products. So, they have to make them better. This lid lock mechanism has been an issue for all the washers that have them. Based on the amount of hits on the YouTube videos watched to repair the problem. So, now they offer the model without a lid lock.
There is also a hack to disable the lid closed indicator. Which means you can actually open the lid while it is running and throw in that SOCK that you dropped on the way to the machine.
Old machines did not have a lid lock.
I used to watch the clothes being washed as a kid...............
I have a washer that isn’t smart, but it has some modern features. It’s very stingy with water and it has a lid lock.
It cheesed me off that I had to say may-I to a washing machine, only to be sure it was washing stuff rather than just beating it up. I removed the lock. It’s only a thingy screwed to the lid. As long as the thingy’s in its slot, the not-smart washer doesn’t know it’s unscrewed, so I can open the lid anytime.
If/when it gives me any serious problems I will buy something cheap and made in USA, but ideally it will have a paranoid-friendly transparent lid and the kind of agitator that can’t catch clothing straps and strings.