I saw a post on Reddit where someone was complaining that the company discontinued support for an app that worked with their models of cookware (it was a oven or something). Anyway the problem was the display screen on the unit had broken years ago but otherwise the unit worked perfectly, so they just used the bluetooth app that came with it to control it.. untillbone day when the company disabled the app for their older model unit - thus leaving the unit useless.. but they offered the customer a $60 discount on their recent model as a consolation prize.
Someone mentioned that the company "likely did this as a form of forced obsolescence," a business strategy in which companies intentionally design products to become unusable after a determined period of time.
I've alluded to this topic before though I didn't call it that, - "forced obsolescence" - but I've noticed it.. How you can't replace the batteries in your phones anymore, its essentially a throwaway item. Same goes for most lithium and lifepo power stations, they aren't built for battery replacement, when it goes dead you throw it away and buy a whole new unit. Computers less then 10 years old that's incompatible with newer operating systems, and old software versions incompatible with new computers.. I could go on, but it nowadays it really does appear a primary manufacturing objective is to intentionally produce products with limited lifespans.
I find that to be a lot more of troublesome concern than tarriffs.
Here's an article on the subject: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/planned-obsolescence-example-definition-apple/
What is 'planned obsolescence?' How this dubious business strategy can cost you over $50,000
Planned obsolescence has become ubiquitous in our consumer economy, from software slowdowns to new car models released annually. This method of designing items to eventually break, go out of style, or become irreparable has helped drive our economy. It's also costing Americans thousands of dollars and polluting our planet..."
That is the evils of capitalism. The power stations is a good example. Although the UPS backups can replace batteries so money is made making the batteries.
The worst thing is everything has to keep changing when there was nothing wrong with what was before. Just because there has to be something new to make something else obsolete.
Tariffs are government money grabs, usually from their own citizens.
Forced Obsolescence is big business money grab, usually from their existing customers.
Pretty similar.
You can choose to purchase products to avoid obsolescence (i.e., take it into consideration). Unless you absolutely have to have the latest and greatest technology, of course.
Unfortunately, you can't switch governments all that easily.
Along the same lines.. Looking at it from the consumer side..
Don't Hoard Old Tech. CNET Survey Finds 31% of US Adults Hold Onto Unused Devices https://www.cnet.com/tech/recycling-tech-survey-2025/
"..A recent CNET survey reveals that over three in 10 (31%) US adults hang onto old devices, because they aren't sure what to do with smartphones, video game consoles, laptops and other tech accessories they no longer use. Nearly one in five (19%) US adults throw away these devices. However, many prefer to trade in their old devices for an exchange or upgrade (37%), while 25% are selling them. ..."
Most all new lighting in big box stores sold now has no replaceable light bulb. Everything is "integrated" LED. And without regulated power the LED are vulnerable to power surges. The surges produces in the house alone are troubling, such as from air conditioning units kicking on. So, yes, your refrigerator (and all appliances) is also vulnerable, but the LED lighting more so.
The actual reason the US banned incandescent general purpose light bulbs was because our grid sucks.