My wonder after the fact was whether I should just have gambled that we could fix the 14-year-old KitchenAid I had and liked. In retrospect, even a $500-600 repair would have resulted in a better fridge than I have now. On the other hand, it's hard to go without a fridge for long (unlike almost any other major appliance) and there's the cost of the food in it to reckon with.
I get that no manufacturer wants to support a product forever. I've read in some appliance forums on-line, though, that some manufacturers are no longer carrying parts for even 5-year-old products. It's hard not to be cynical about the entire experience.