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.
It's a mix. As someone who has learned to appreciate well made things, it's important to recognize that it is not remotely as good as what an actual carpenter would make, and we should respect their labor and skill. At the same time, most Ikea stuff is cheap and perfectly functional. Not every piece of furniture needs to stand the test of time, etc.