Agreed. Maybe "unwilling consumer" would have been more appropriate.I'm not sure uneducated consumer is the correct term here. I think a lot of us on these forums take wrenching skill and tool prices for granted. How many people these days watch how to videos 50 times over, and are still paralyzed by fear to start the job? Wrenching is a learned trade skill, and the confidence to do it isn't instilled in everyone. It's fun, but it's still hard, dirty labor which current generations find absolutely appalling. Don't believe me? Go check out reddit forums on "work boots" such as r/goodyearwelt or r/redwingshoes. Most current drivers struggle to assemble Ikea furniture.
Shade tree mechanics are a becoming increasingly rare. Where I grew up in a neighborhood of 6 or 7 of us that worked on cars, in my current, much much larger immediate circle its only me.
The cost of tools is another factor. Sure, dropping $50 on a new tool doesn't seem bad, but raise your hand if you already own $20K to $50K in tools.
With Gladiators and Wranglers clocking in at $50K at the dealership prior to any mods, a unique ultra reliable Land Cruiser looks like a bargain.