Whew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is cynical yet enjoys it. I noticed that about Ikea's tendency to change things, too, because for some odd reason the best friend keeps Ikea catalogues from years past. Why would anyone do that?

When I was idealistic I swore I would never buy anything unless I had cash, and I wouldn't buy anything to tide me over, just good stuff. My first apartment was a townhouse-style condo and on the first floor there was an armchair (inherrited) a chest (inherrited) and a CD player from a yard sale. It stayed that way until my roommate moved in, bringing with her a television and a beanbag chair. I will say it was very easy to vacuum. We even had room to put our bikes in the living room. I've lost sight of that, but my couches, though they won't last 10 years I'm guessing, are way more comfy than the floor.