I'd argue too much, not too little market research is the problem. They just have wrong (ok, misaligned) objectives.
Soldered RAM is invisible on the table at Best Buy, but the price savings to the manufacturer are very visible on their balance sheet. In fact, a laptop that becomes useless and you need to upgrade from 8 GB soldered RAM to one with 16 GB soldered RAM after 2 years is more than twice as profitable as one that a consumer stuck a new SODIMM stick in and used for 4+ years. Companies understand that very well, and the average consumer hasn't been able to prove that they are even aware of these problems.
Perhaps. But more landfill trash? That sounds like a 20th Century business model.
But to your point, let's take it a step further. Most people aren't going to bother to upgrade their RAM. It's likely they won't even know. Even so after three years they'll want some new feature. But who do you give that to? At least if the RAM could be upgraded, it could have some added use. I'm not so sure that bonus round is being filled with new hardware.
Put another way, a used Brand X is good shape would be a gateway to a new customer and a new purchase next time. Why not lease laptops to the consumer market? Or offer trade-up deals like phones?
There's got to be a way that's better for consumers, the environment, and manufacturers.
Economy in the purest sense is, but financial profit is not. People seem to confuse economy with financial functions. Companies seem to do most things for financial reasons, particularly profit to owners, not economic reasons. I think this distinction is important as "economics" hides the egregious use of business for financial gain at the cost of much else in society.
Soldered RAM is invisible on the table at Best Buy, but the price savings to the manufacturer are very visible on their balance sheet. In fact, a laptop that becomes useless and you need to upgrade from 8 GB soldered RAM to one with 16 GB soldered RAM after 2 years is more than twice as profitable as one that a consumer stuck a new SODIMM stick in and used for 4+ years. Companies understand that very well, and the average consumer hasn't been able to prove that they are even aware of these problems.