I have been mending electrical and electronic things since about 1962 and I started learning about electronics that way. I have been a professional electronic/electrical engineer since 1971, and have always mended things for my family and friends, as a sort of small protest against wasteful consumerism, as well as out of interest.

I currently still work for an electronics manufacturer and I have direct experience of all kinds of electrics and electronics, as well as regulations and directives such as RoHS, WEEE and the EcoDesign Directive, which has recently attracted attention to the idea of “right to repair”.
Working for an electronics manufacturer I see all sides, most manufacturers do not intentionally set out to make environmentally hostile or short-lived products, but with intense competition mainly on price, only regulations and consumer pressure will improve matters.