Smaller, lighter, cheaper

That seems to be the motto behind the manufacture of almost any product these days.

I bought some paint the other day. The store threw in a free key to open the cans when I got home.

The new key (bottom) is a bit shorter and a lot lighter than the old key they gave me when I bought some paint a few years back.

I don't mind it being smaller or lighter as long as it works. But it does seem to be another example of production skimping in an attempt to remain viable in slow economic times. And I'd almost bet the retailer is paying the same (or more) for the smaller key as it did for yesteryear's beefier version.