>I have no fucking idea why Samsung is somehow considered the top of the heap for consumer appliances.

Competitors like Frigidaire, LG, GE, Whirlpool/Maytag/KitchenAid, aren't any better. Modern appliances are junk because it has become a race to the bottom with consumers buying appliances based on price/features not quality.

The only appliance brands I still trust to build a decent quality product are Miele, Speed Queen, and Bosch.