Jo,
Last night I sat down and refinished a belt I made for myself three years ago. This particular belt had lots of miles on it and was in rough shape. I cleaned it up with a damp rag, applied a light coat of neatsfoot oil, redyed worn areas, and refinished with Satin Shene. I was surprised to find a belt that looked almost brand new, and immediately regretted not taking "before-and-after" photos as proof of the remarkable transformation.
The point is this: a well-cared-for product built out of quality materials can last practically forever. I'm convinced from past experience I would have gone through several imported, factory-made belts in this same timeframe.
I'm wondering when Americans will wake up from this Walmart-inspired fixation with the lowest possible price, and start looking again for quality. Or maybe no one wants to wear the same belt for ten years? Maybe folks are more interested in buying cheap, short-term products that wear out quickly so they can get next year's "latest and greatest" item?
There's lots to ponder in your post, and I'm looking forward to hearing other weigh in...
-Alex