Inexpensive labor will ensure that the "fixer" mentality that was strong up through the 1980s and even into the 1990s is long gone.

Back in the day when you paid $300-500 for an appliance or consumer electronics and could get it repaired for $35-70, it made sense. Today, labor rates put repairs at $90-120 for products that retail new for $150.

Personally I love fixing things, it's like a a big puzzle.