I don't think anyone can be exploited unless they want to be. Of course there will always be new gadgets, now fabrics, new machines and whatever. It's entirely up to the individual if they want to buy it or not. I am very carful with my money and what I buy.
Those cone thread holders used to be heavy metal and now they are flimsy plastic, I still have the old ones and I did post a way you could make your own with the empty disk containers, it works just as well.
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