Regarding the built in obsolescence, it is definetly out there. Some components are even made from weak materials that are intentionally chosen like that isntead of something durable. They are known to fatigue and crack after a certain time under continous use - upon testing, they can now roughly tell how many years it needs to wear out within a normal scenario, resulting in a possible purchase of a newer model.
Back in the day, it was the exact opposite - they sought the better quality materials and marketed the product accordingly, highlighting it's durability. Then again the whole approach was different, a product was viewed in itself, instead of the maniacal comparing that we do today. Someone made a small, reliable radio you can hang in your garage, and it was just that. A radio. A product that doesn"t want to be anything more and can stand on it's own for what it is.
Same reason why I still like the original brick gameboy for example. It delivers a certain something that doesn't need to be perfected anymore, they reached it's best implementation with the first model. Aside from some games actually being kinda long and complex, it is a whole different world, something that modern gaming cannot provide. When I play it, that means I counciously choose not to go with 4k graphics and need to scratch that other itch, that's exactly the authentic few bit goodness in a system that's a big chunk, great to hold, has weight with nice colour themes and just real cozy (installed an olive green-yellowish coloured backlit screen though). If somebody would bring colour to these cartridges, that would ruin the graphics. I honestly believe that handheld games should never be 3D and anything beyond the GBA feels too flashy to be played in that fashion.
And thank god those devices are from a time where they still built them to last, so that I can play them still.
