I suspect it's because of https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/
When money loses it's value one is forced to manufacturer things of lower quality.
Discussion
Companies did it for a wider profit margin. Nothing about the market pressured them to manufacture outside the US. It's not like they were facing downturns. If anything, US regulations drove them that direction, and the lower wages of other nations became too attractive.
Either way, that doesn't explain the change in attitude from *purchasers* though, which is what I was asking about.
People used to know that spending $5 more for an item that will last your lifetime (or longer) is better than spending $5 less for an item you'll have to replace over and over. That intelligence has disappeared for, "Lower price is always better" type of thinking.