Yes. We are expensive. Most home building materials though aren't made for craftsmanship. They are mostly just puzzle pieces made for quick install, replacement, and lower costs. Also many building codes require these new systems of construction and real craftsmanship is kinda discouraged or hampered as a side effect.
It is an issue for sure. Old plumbing being the WORST! Old glavanized and cast iron pipes with bell and spigot fittings packed with okum and lead solder. It's a nightmare to replace and work on. Then there are the hodgepodge fixes with Dressor couplers all over to try and fix small faulty sections. Old heating systems are 50/50 bag. Sometimes they can be retro fitted easier , other times it's almost just as well to replace all the duct work and start a whole new system.
Old homes are nice and well built usually but they aren't for the faint of heart and get expensive and troublesome if you aren't able to do some of the work yourself. Keep in mind a lot of contractor employees aren't really all that familiar with the old systems anymore and are kinda blind working on them. They are few and pricey but it's best to try and find companies that specialize in retro fitting antiquated systems. They are out there.
Yes, my next-door neighbor is a carpenter / jack of trades guy and having seen his work, he's pretty damn good at what he does. Another neighbor of mine is a roofer, he has an art all his own. He's replaced 4 roofs on our street alone (not including his own) in the last year and a half... In shockingly quick time, no less. I see his company sign all over my area, but he runs a pretty small outfit.
True, but I've found that outside of major urban areas, the work is better and the smaller contractors are more reliable. I had my HVAC unit replaced by a single contractor who did the job for $2500 less than a major company, the work was completed in two days where the major company said it would take a week, and he got the inspection and certificate of compliance done in a week.
Benedict Arnold 