I highly doubt a mechanical timer would be more reliable than a micro and some buttons. I can't think of a single mechanical device that is more reliable than

I highly doubt a mechanical timer would be more reliable than a micro and some buttons. I can't think of a single mechanical device that is more reliable than an equivalent solid-state version of that same device. Solid state relay vs electromechanical relay. Timex quartz watch vs. an automatic or manual watch. Laundry rooms can be both hot and cold, are almost always humid, are often home to caustic chemicals, and a dryer's components are constantly exposed to dust in the form of lint: the perfect use case for solid state. Spraying a pcb with a coating is much cheaper and more reliable than sealing a mechanical mechanism. Instead of resisting, the smart move is to agitate for and promote secure, open, standards.