At least it is easily accessible. The one on the timing chain on the BMW requires the engine to come out and costs over £2k to put right!
Completely agree about cost cutting. Before around yr 2000 manufacturers seemed to be designing and producing the best components they could. Since then they seem to be producing to a tolerable failure rate for minimum cost. I guess that they have realised they don't want to get trapped in the everlasting light bulb scenario.