I blame the Neptune debacle. Those washers had a boatload of problems with mildew, control boards, and other design-based issues. Instead of stepping up to the plate, Maytag management basically told consumers "tough". They often didn't repair the machines properly under warranty, they didn't extend warranties when it was obvious the problems stemmed from design, and they didn't have the guts to admit that Neptune was a horrific mistake that should have been corrected by discontinuing the appliance and recalling the units, offering consumers a deal on another, more reliable machine. Whatever money was "saved" by cutting all these corners pales in comparison to the cost of the complete collapse of what used to be one of the proudest brand names in America. I feel very sorry for people in Newton, whose economic livelihood was tied to Maytag; all their hard work and trust in the company has been trashed by execs who worried more about their compensation packages than they did about upholding one of the finest reputations in American business.
I don't blame Whirly if they do kill the Maytag name. It doesn't stand for much of anything any more, and it hasn't since That Thing (the Neptune) first reared its ugly, corner-cutting, ill-designed head.
