While I get the broader point — don’t fix what isn’t broken — I’d generally trust a solid-state system to outlast a mechanical system, if your concern is longevity. Mechanical parts wear. Microcontrollers just kinda keep on going.
EDIT: I’d add, though, that I haven’t had a problem with the Kitchenaid blender that I use, whereas I’ve killed a few prior blenders of other brands, so I’m already not super concerned about Kitchenaid appliances just up and dying.
Until they just stop. Randomly. And now your thing is completely dead with no chance at repair because the “do everything” chip is under a blob of epoxy.
While I get the broader point — don’t fix what isn’t broken — I’d generally trust a solid-state system to outlast a mechanical system, if your concern is longevity. Mechanical parts wear. Microcontrollers just kinda keep on going.
EDIT: I’d add, though, that I haven’t had a problem with the Kitchenaid blender that I use, whereas I’ve killed a few prior blenders of other brands, so I’m already not super concerned about Kitchenaid appliances just up and dying.
Until they just stop. Randomly. And now your thing is completely dead with no chance at repair because the “do everything” chip is under a blob of epoxy.
Yeah, imagine open source control electronics though.
Similar to 3d printers, then we could have microcontrollers and it’d still be repairable.
In theory that should be true but in practice the controller on my appliances die in ~10 years.