Your disappointments are not reflective of the Japanese industry. I can criticise Japan a lot, but honestly your complaints are only about Sony.
Sony was floating in the bowl during the mid-80s and becoming a content producer was what flushed them into the sewer.
The quality, innovation, engineering and thoughtfulness that Sony Electronics worked so hard to build their reputation on did not disappear overnight, but it is all gone now.
Today, Sony Electronics is a junk factory and a remarketer of junk. Your life will be better if you simply avoid anything with a Sony nameplate or that incorporates Sony components.
Sony was floating in the bowl during the mid-80s and becoming a content producer was what flushed them into the sewer.
The quality, innovation, engineering and thoughtfulness that Sony Electronics worked so hard to build their reputation on did not disappear overnight, but it is all gone now.
Today, Sony Electronics is a junk factory and a remarketer of junk. Your life will be better if you simply avoid anything with a Sony nameplate or that incorporates Sony components.