Sure, cars work lots better now. I have no complaints, there. I remember trying to start my old Delta 88 in below-zero weather, firing spray shots of ether into the air intake.

But I also remember when my Dad used to trade in for a new car every two or three years, and we weren't rich by any stretch. I do get over 100,000 miles out of my cars (173,000 on the Eurovan and 155,000 on the Chevy so far), but then, I pretty much have to. We have one "new" car, the Honda Pilot, with about 40,000 miles on it, and we're still paying for it. Two new cars would break the bank. I paid a relative 200 bucks for the Delta 88 and got years of use out of it. Had I lived in California at the time instead of steel-eating salt-roaded Minnesota, I might still be driving it.

As for getting used to things being banned, I suppose you're right. Boiling the frog, and all that. We can take that up on another board if you think it's worth a conversation.