I think people are just terrified that they may have tossed something perfectly useable, so they figure they will make it harder for someone to "take advantage" of their inability to fix it. When they know its a good unit, they are just being selfish.
The same people take the legs off of furniture to get it through doorways, then keep the legs so no-one can benefit from the item. The legs stay in a closet for a few years then get tossed. LOL
There are plenty of charities, womens shelters, thrift shops, SCPCA, Salvation Army, Goodwill, people who can't afford, etc, that would appreciate the merchandise. It would be nice if the stuff at least had a chance of being reused before becoming landfill.
OK rant mode off.