[tonyedgecombe]

I’ve become quite doubtful about the Vimes theory because getting boots resoled involves labour so has become relatively expensive.

Also my expensive boots didn’t last a lifetime, last time I went to get them resoled I was told they had deteriorated too far.

[Procrastes]

The metaphor may not hold up well in practice, but as counterexamples, I've had a pair of motorcycle boots since the late 80s that have never needed any maintenance beyond some saddle soap, and my grandfather's fountain pen from the 1920s just turned 100 and still writes fine. I put a new nib in it about 15 years ago or so.