"Harmonyard's" recent thread that started with defective couplers (hope your roof is ok!) got me to thinking about this whole issue again.
I suspect that most of us here began with what we now call "Pre/Post War" stuff; items that were made as "toys", but were manufactured in a time when most things were built to last, and when the people using them were self-sufficient. Just look at an issue of "Popular Mechanics" from the '50's: "Let's go out and build our own helicopter", or whatever!
Because these items have lasted for so long, and parts were (and still are) available, the hobby has this "sub-culture", if you will, of "fix it yourself". To me, and perhaps a lot of us here, that is part of, if not the most fun. Again, this stems from the durability of these items. Things get worn out through use, we replace those parts, and have the satisfaction of doing it ourselves.
Fast forward to today, where the whole culture is more "disposable". We now have items which are made elsewhere (for better or worse), some have very complex systems which are often beyond the abilities of most of us to repair, and indeed often seem to be designed more to be replaced, not repaired. And it's more often than not a QC issue to begin with.
So we have this conflict between what we've been used to doing (repair) and having to adjust to the new norm (replace). Some argue that if we repair new, ofttimes defective items (even those that are not the more "complex" systems) we're actually making things worse by not sending those items back to the manufacturer. I see that point, but then we are having to suppress that "repair instinct" that has served us so well and for so long.
Like everything else, the "era of adjustment to a new norm" can be a difficult one...good thing this is just a hobby, no? 
Mark in Oregon 
, but when something as basic to the operation of our trains goes south, like couplers(!) we are really in new territory. Let's hope yours is a relatively isolated incident. If not, perhaps I should look into buying some stock shares in Kadee Couplers, Inc.
