@coolandnormal yes, but also: there did used to be a greater variety of quality, but the market has pushed apart in two directions:

• really cheap, fair quality but not great
• really good, at a cost

There used to be something in between those two price points, but that has largely disappeared in many product areas.

And then, of course, there's fashion, which makes its own rules and is for the most part driven by marketing more than need.