Most modern refrigerators. They have tons of features (ice makers, water dispensers, screens) that are unnecessary.
But what gets me really going is the shelving, specifically door shelving. Most manufacturers have moved to clear polycarbonate for the “wall” around the shelf which is specifically not recommended for shock loading. For example, the load that is applied when the door closes and the condiments slide into the retaining piece. To get a fridge with metal means upgrading to a luxury model.
And don’t get me started on the fact that door shelving overlaps with interior shelving. Go look at a 1940s Shelvador and learn how to build a proper appliance.
Frankly, most appliances bother me:
microwaves have UI issues, but I do like Panasonic’s genius inverter line.
stoves have too many features and electronics. A true commercial style stoves without gadgets and gewgaws to break is hard to find for home use.
so many dishwashers simply don’t clean dishes. Modern ones (imho) get too hot
Most washing machines are way too rough on clothes.
what the fuck is even with dryers? If people in the UK hang their clothes to dry, you can too (tropical climates may be an exception). Thankfully heat pump dryers are becoming a thing.
Yeah one can't hang clothes outside to dry here, since it's not dry outside, and line dried laundry is stiff and wrinkled, dryer laundry is soft and smooth. But I still pull half my clothes out and hang them inside to dry because oof dryers sure do wear them out faster.
I'm not up for hanging wet sheets and towels throughout my condo, much less clothes. And my HOA would fine me exorbitantly if I hung laundry on my balcony. I'm seriously glad there are washers and dryers in the basement and that, after constant issues with frontloading washers, we went back to toploaders.
If people in the UK hang their clothes to dry, you can too
This is something of a thing in places in Europe, though not much in the US today.
I don't really like line-dried clothes. I'm sure that it's gentler on the clothes, but in addition to the convenience, machine-dried clothes are considerably softer; line-dried stuff is stiff by comparison.