is old stuff better?

this week, i took my 5-year-old iPad pro in to the local tech repair shop to get a new battery, because its original battery was draining too fast for my liking. if i'm going to use it for work, it needs to last. which got me wondering, how much are we undervaluing our old stuff? between getting this new battery for a 5-year old device that still works wonders, being a regular at thrift stores, and being somewhat of an old tech enthusiast (i'm writing this entry on a genuine windows 7 laptop ;)), i've begun to appreciate older items over new ones. we all know that dreaded term: enshittification: the concept of companies making everything worse and worse over the years. our clothes and toys are made with cheaper materials, our devices stop working properly after owning them for 6 months, and new programs are needlessly frustrating to use. but then you look at older products. how old are your current computer, phone, and clothes? if they've lasted you 5 years or more, what's the use in…