A pervasive myth of the pre-digital era was that warranties for
vehicles and home appliances always expire right before you need
them. Your car won't see the inside of a mechanic's shop for the
three to five years it's under manufacturer's warranty. Your
refrigerator will maintain the perfect chill and your washing
machine will wash, rinse and drain for the one to six months
they're guaranteed. But the moment the warranties expire, on
goes the check-engine light and off goes the ice machine.  You
can turn your desk upside down, empty your filing cabinets and
dig through your old shoe boxes until it looks like Hurricane
Sandy hit your house, but the paperwork all says the same thing
every time: You just became responsible for any problems with
your purchase.  There is an explanation for this perceived
trend. Manufacturers operate based on the principles of risk
management. Every appliance that comes off the factory
production line and each of its components have lifespans
determined by exhaustive product endur