Just going by Speed Queen’s statement. Again too bad you weren’t there advise them otherwise.
Please post a link to that statement. I don't see anything of the sort.
As an engineer who worked many years designing sensors and controls for a very wide assortment of devices, I can tell you "how it really is". First, the public relations office of any large company is stuffed with liars and con men. The same goes for the marketing and sales personnel.
What actually happened in the "green surge" is that the Federal government published guidelines for reducing the energy and water needs of washing machines. (Clothes and dishes) Those were not laws or regulations, they were guidelines. I can provide you a link if you desire.
The marketing people, who are always anxious to one-up their competitors, establish their own rules for the design of the next generation of machines. Those rules typically exceed the government guidelines, and they demand specific price points for the finished product. Marketing will also mandate delivery dates that are absurd.
In order to meet the delivery, price, and "green" requirements that marketing set, it was clear that only electronics based controls would work; specifically, a microcontroller. These devices are way superior in every respect to timing motors, cam drums, and relay logic. They turn out to be the only sensible way to make modern controls, particularly in view of the feature creep that characterizes marketing goals.
Now, the price point kicks into gear. That dominates the quality of the semiconductors that are chosen, specifically their temperature and surge tolerance. The quality of the circuit board material is controlled by the price point. The degree of EMF/EMP shielding is governed by the price point. Worse still, planned obsolescence is demanded by the marketing rules.
The government recommended energy and water savings goals. The companies are free to choose if and how they will meet those recommendations. The companies internally govern the quality standards of their products. The government regulates only safety. The engineers design them in a manner to keep their employers happy.
Similar, but more rugged devices are used in washing machines in order to determine water needs or terminating the cycle before the maximum time limit.