[1rudeboy]

I'd say the primary reason is because of our Freon/CFC regulations, but I agree that "planned obsolescence" is a scourge on our society.

[american colleen]

Another thing is that those 'old' refrigerators chew up the electricity pretty good.

My sister's electric bill soared when she took my dad's 20 year old refrige for a spare one for down the cellar. She got rid of it and bought a new spare, electric bill barely increased with the new one.