this_user gets it.

Successful publicly traded companies have a responsibility to generate more revenue and increase the stock price every year. Year after year. Once their product is mature after so many years, there aren't new variations to release or new markets to enter into.

Sales stagnate and costs stagnate; investors get upset. Only way to get that continual growth is to increase prices and slash costs.

When done responsibly, it's just good business.

The problem comes in next year when you have to do it again. And again. Then the year after you have to do it again. And again.

Such as all things in life, all companies eventually die.