I think you somewhat misunderstand how prices work to convey information. Price on its own has never provided sufficient information to make a purchasing decision. As a one dimensional, discrete numeric value, how could it? It is always necessary for the buyer to use additional information to determine what a particular purchase is worth to them. If it is priced below the value they determine it has to them then it may be a worthwhile purchase. Wide availability of product information and consumer reviews on the internet makes finding the information to estimate a purchase&#x27;s value to a given individual easier and this makes the price mechanism work more effectively.<p>What price does convey quite effectively in a hard to fake way is the value to the seller and thus some indication of the resources that went into the manufacture of a product. All else being equal, a more durable product will tend to have a higher price reflecting the greater resources required to produce it.<p>I don&#x27;t disagree with much else that you say, with the caveat that I think buying say a wood plane makes sense for relatively few individuals unless they happen to derive particular pleasure from woodwork as a hobby or intend to do it as a business. The &#x27;sharing economy&#x27; is a way the internet makes it possible for more people to amortize the cost between them and does change that calculation somewhat by making more efficient use of resources.