I would argue blenders/mixers aren't on that list. Used my mothers fancy one, used fancy ones at school, used friends fancy devices. And used my rubbish $12 blender from BigW, so I do not see why anyone pays more than $12 for a mixer ever.
Boots, though, shoes, headphones, and laptop. Those are good to be quality.
Personally, I don't think most people need super high end headphones, but I know a few people who'll buy a new pair of gas station headphones every month. There are several companies making decent, affordable headphones that will sound better and last much longer. You don't need to spend $500, but you better spend at least $50
$12 blenders are fine until you want to make a frozen drink without pea sized chunks of ice in it.
As far as mixers go generally agree, unless you want to use it weekly or to make dough. To be able to make dough balls you need to have something with some cojones.
It's one of those right tool right job kind of things. If the job is to mix Pillsbury cake mix, anything works.
I make dough several times a week. But I use my hands, because I have tried using machines (including the expensive ones) and they make it wrong every time.
The dough hook isn't magic, it takes the beginning and middle out of your work. There are some recipes that it won't work for, anything gentle and cakey it's just too much. If you need to kneed for 10-15 minutes, it'll knock 2/3 of that time off.
In order to understand the usefulness of the blender you have to actually use it a lot. It has to be a common item of use in your life. As a kitchen person who loves cooking, that new blender is the best thing since I used a commercial robo coup in restaurant kitchens. A $12 blender is a piece of crap that has to be poked, prodded, messed with and talked nice to just to make a damn smoothie.
Shoes though. I'm with you there. Feet and teeth. You get one life with them and use them every day. Take care of em.
I mean my new blender has 3 blades that mean I never have to poke, shake, or worry. One blade at bottom, middle, then top, and the blades reach near the sides of the blender. There is nowhere my fruit can hide from my Ninja.
Those blenders that only have blades at the bottom always get stagnant and you have to like stir, poke, and prod. Like you'll get a frozen strawberry down by the blades, and it'll just kick it up higher into the liquid. Felt like it never evenly blended things.
Well dang that vitamix kicked butt. Guess I'm just used to the crappy ones where it kicks things up.
But hey that's my ninja in the video! For how much cheaper it is I'll consider it a success if it can do most things the vitamix can do, but just takes a little longer.