Everyone's always talking about how shoddy it is and how your cabinets will disintegrate if they go through any kind of stress, but all my cheap-ass furniture with a piece or two missing is still going strong after nearly a decade a use. Maybe I'm just lucky and it really is all crap, but I can't shake the feeling that the reason people shit on Ikea is because it's inexpensive.
This is how I've always seen the stuff. I've seen better furniture for free on the side of the road. I've built comparable furniture for 1/3 of the price. It's actually pretty expensive for cheap minimalist furniture with glossy paint. Go on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist every now and then and you'll find better pieces for a fraction of the cost. They might need a fresh coat of paint but it's a much better deal especially if you can line up actual wooden furniture.
I've never heard anyone say Ikea was poor people's furniture.