Legacy Support

Today Nintendo announced that it was discontinuing the GameCube wireless controller, otherwise known as the Wavebird. The Wavebird was the first commercially successful wireless controller for any computing device, and amazingly, it didn't suck. Nintendo has made the gigantic leap of discontinuing one of it's most popular accessories only a year after a new console's release, with Gamecubes still in their boxes, waiting to be sold.
This is just the latest example in a new trend among hardware makers. They stop making parts for older hardware almost as soon as the new hardware is released. When Microsoft started making the Xbox 360, they reduced to almost nil the time and effort spent on making the Xbox controllers, memory cards, and all the other accessories. Who could have known, when they bought their Xbox in 2004, that in six months their consoles would be unsupported, with no new controllers available.
Sony and Apple have been notable exceptions to the rule. For two years after Apple began to integrate cameras and microphones into their consumer line of computers, they continued to build and support the iSight external camera, which was outdated 3 years before it was killed off. Sony still makes PS2 controllers, memory cards, DDR dance pads, and EyeToys. Even though the hardware is outdated, there is still considerable demand for it, as the PS2 continues to be the highest selling console, ahead of the Xbox 360 and the Wii.
On the other hand, automakers have been using this sort of practice for years. For most cars that are no longer in production, it is impossible to find new parts. Most parts are salvaged from other cars that have been in accidents This has caused a 75% rise in the number of totaled cars in the last 10 years. Even the most expensive cars from 10 years ago have no spare parts available. This causes most consumers to have to buy new technology whenever their old whatever breaks, instead of just repairing it.