[throwaway0a5e]

You also didn't have the internet hype machine (i.e. people with no experience in whatever you're asking about who feel compelled to answer anyway) telling you that you that your off brand blender with 99% the MBTF of the name brand one is vastly inferior.

[stickfigure]

The television advertising hype machine was running full force in the 80s, and most people watched hours of television every day. Do not imagine that information was more reliable back then. Despite the internet's imperfections, it is much easier to find good product information now.

[throwaway0a5e]

The TV commercial was trying to sell you something and you knew it. You don't know whether the moron on HN/Reddit/whatever actually believes what they're saying about a product or is lying to you to justify their own purchase.

You can find product specs much easier these days but subjective product information is no easier to come by. Well, it's easier to come by, but you can't easily pick it out from the sea of BS.