back then it was obvious nike/jb were sleepers cuz most of the time you only knew what people were wearing on their feet by observation and hype didn't fuel much demand. A time when it didn't necessarily matter how many pairs were produced, a time when people admired what your sneakers were even if they didn't match your outfit, a time when wearing nikes/js was eye catching while playing basketball, tennis or any sport or fitness activity, a time when sneakers weren't fashionable, they were just the iconic manifestation of a signature company that represented the finesse of proficient athletes
jb laughing it up while we crying, buying, indifferent or protesting...in 85-99 and some stuff to 03 they were making quality shoes with lower prices even if the economy wasn't currently the way it is and they were making decent money, just not greedy "big business" money like every company wants today and for the future.
they said we'll increase profits by making cheaper stuff simply because we are now the "apple inc" of the sneaker world. This happens with 99% of companies that become hugely successful. There are some things you cannot compare or contrast with other companies. It only was a matter of time. I mean if the yeezy 2 was technically "premium" and it was "cheaper" in touch and comfort than the first yeezy, it seems that style and design with the right colorway has more of influenced effect factor for buying a shoe rather than comfort and material.
If nike jb implemented this practice of inferior quality a long time ago it only would have benefited their wallets to the point that today's products would be so cheaply made it would probably not been worth buying, and maybe they could have gotten the message to make better products...however at this phase of the market the majority of consumers are hyped up by the popularity thus they are those who wont care much about what enthusiasts were saying for years. Since they feed the nike jb cow, nike jb will still continue to mass produce sub par products to the masses, and then once in awhile release f aux "good" quality retros of ogs that cost more now than before. The 1000s of members that are on niketalk are a minority who are more sophisticated and refined in their tastes versus the majority that is the general public that nike jb will cater too because they are ones who are the majority, and majority does eventually rule. The thing for nike jb is that will the kind of "remastered" materials and structure they use be cheaper in cost but also look good and feel good to us so that we stop complaining? Will they profit or resort to their old methods? With this approach they look like they are trying to juggle and balance net profits, quality and their image on some, maybe not all products.
There's a saying in life that you don't value something until its lost or gone. Sometimes some of us don't realize how good it really was back then.