Part 8/11:
The perspective that presents the Phoebus cartel as purely nefarious often neglects the underlying technical complexities involved in light bulb design. Leading engineers knew that longer-lasting bulbs often produced lower-quality light, resulting in higher power consumption due to the need to deliver the same output through more significant energy draw. Thus, while the cartel's practices undeniably carried troubling implications regarding market manipulation and collusion, assigning them the blame solely for planned obsolescence is an oversimplification.
The work of the cartel should not be viewed as a successful grim conspiracy, but rather as a reflection of deeply rooted engineering dilemmas, where the balance of longevity, efficiency, and product quality remains a constant struggle.