Old KitchenAid mixers (Hobart era) were fantastic machines. The problem of course was that they weren't selling - everybody was still using the one their mom bought 30 years ago. So they introduced "electronic control". This eliminated the planetary gearbox in the machine (that actually multiplied the torque as RPMs slowed) in favor of a switch that gave many more speeds and made it easier to shift. A bunch of people "upgraded", but the problem was still that the machines simply didn't die.

So KitchenAid took a page from Le Creuset and others and starting making the machines in glossy trendy colors, with cute bowls and accessories to boot. This sold a bunch more as people repurchased simply for the styling.

Nowadays the older ones truly are better because the new internal gears are made of plastic. These new parts strip out after perhaps only a year of home bread or pizza making. Eureka - a machine that looks cool and only lasts a few years!

Don't jump all over me - this is merely a cautionary tale. No reputable company would ever consider putting electronic gear control, hidden plastic parts, cute accessories, or fancy paint on a bike just to drive profit and sales.