Yep, these sort of tools are certainly intended to be consumable. Even though the initial problem was just the switch (standard size, cost 79 pence for a replacement), most people would have just figured they'd got their year's use out of it, toss it in the trash and go buy another one. These things only get repaired (if possible) these days when it's for family and friends.

By the way, I forgot to mentioned the plastic clips holding the brush springs which you can see in the second pic. It seems they have some sort of ingenious automatic release system in them so that you only have to look at them cock-eyed and they fall off sending the spring across the room. [Linked Image]