People just don't know any better, and in large part because they just don't understand. But to me the worst part is that despite the lack of technical understanding people give early breakdowns a pass. The majority are not demanding 30+ year longevity under daily use with a no strings attached 10 year warranty. Speed Queen continues to be an upper end niche market instead of an average player as it was 40 years ago. The Speed Queen washers of today, particularly the classic clean while deemed the creme de le creme of our time were actually average to mediocre when compared to the Whirlpool Belt Drives, Maytag Dependable cares and Frigidaire thumpers of yesterday. Modern manufacturers like Whirlpool, GE and Frigidaire could produce washing machines of such robust quality and performance they could put Alliance to shame renegading it to the WCI of today.
I'd love to walk into a modern appliance store and see Alliances's current design used in BOL intro washers intended for rental properties and cost conscious customers while Whirlpool, GE and Frigidaire would have designs on the floor that would make Maytag of the 1970s blush. They have the technology to build front load and top load washers that could last 60 years as a norm. It is possible without violating the laws of physics.