Well, the glaze may be only slightly more expensive, but the plates are much more expensive. You see, handmade plates made for export by sweatshop factories in third world nations that don’t care quite so much about public health issues are dirt cheap. They also have nice colorful glazes but often poor vitrification (a proper glaze is completely glassy) and quality control.
Stores know that selling unregulated manufacture and lots of finger-pointing is worthwhile, because the plates may cost 4/$1 (wholesale FOB) and be sold for $5 or more. That means a huge margin difference over a $4 plate selling for $5 (especially when you factor in breakage in shipping)
On the other hand, I’ve seen ceramic ware that was intended as ‘decorative’ (not to be eaten from) end up on tables: bowls, pitchers, plates, etc. Sometimes the tiny warning sticker is a transparent rouse, meant to be ignored, and inconsistently applied; sometimes it’s obviously sincere (e.g. when the interior of the ceramic isn’t glazed)
BTW – you said your post was a rant and not a question.
So was my response. If I’d meant it to be a real answer I would have included some useful info like this, instead of namecalling and innuendo of faceless villains.
On a similar note, my parent’s recently moved into a house that had an older induction range and had to go out and find magnetic cookware. They finally found some All-Clad in a Willims-Sonoma or something and were asking the salesperson if they could swap the dutch oven in a set for a taller pot, since they didn’t really have any use for the dutch oven. He blinked then laughed, then told my parents that no one’s ever asked him that before because 90% of the sets he sells are for people to hang on their wall. We’re talking about a $500 set of pots and pans here, people.
So in reply to your rant. They aren’t supposed to be eaten off of. They’re to fill up some yuppie’s china display.
Show_Biz, that’s two threads I see you have “boosted” today. Please don’t get in the habit of doing that on the SDMB. It may be accepted behavior on other message boards, but we do not encourage it. Threads die a natural death when people are no longer interested in them.
On another note, “rants” should normally be placed in the BBQ Pit.