I think the global recession triggered enough companies to worsen their products (cost more, get less, more ads, etc) in order to increase / maintain profits th

I think the global recession triggered enough companies to worsen their products (cost more, get less, more ads, etc) in order to increase / maintain profits that a tipping point was reached and other companies simply followed suit. A new norm is building; one that hopefully goes away when the money tide goes back in.