> The main issue is that _determining_ which products actually are quality has also > gotten harder in many cases.

There was a brief window in time where price would be a useful signal. Among all cheap crap, good quality did cost but also deliver. Then someone figured they can leverage branding to sell crap for the price of good quality items, and now even if you're willing to spend money you can't be sure you're actually getting the good stuff.

Buying not maybe the cheapest but the second cheapest is more expensive overall but unfortunately also more manageable.