Yes and no. It depends on the complexity of the product and the cost of repair/replacement compared to the warrnaty cost. A blanket statement such as yours is misleading. Some, maybe even many, extended warranties are not needed and do not really payout.
I just bought a PRO151-FD which comes with a two year warranty (most only have a one year warranty). I extended the warranty to 5 years in home service for complete parts and labor for $599. Before you think that is too high, you might want to research the cost of repairing a HD TV. I recently replace the power supply on a Misubishi 55" and it cost $550; it was about 4 1/2 years old.
But in defference to your statement, I agree with you a lot of extended warranties are overpriced and do not provide you much return . Caveat Emptor ---
read the warranty carefully! ........ especailly if you get a blind call that your car warranty is about to expire and they have no idea what type of car you have.
Concerning quality and warranty Hunter fans. I had a remote hunter fan that quite working after about 5 1/2 years. The remote receiver unit is easily replaceable; I repalced it and it still didn't work. I called Hunter and told them the sysmptoms; replace remote receiver and light works, but fan does not. fan unit clicks when I select fan speeds. First they are sneding me an new remote receiver and transmitter and if that doesn't fix it ( which I don't think it will becuase I have 8 of the same fans installed and 2 remote receivers have failed in 5 1/2 years) they will send me a new fan motor. Pretty good --limited lifetime warranty.
--- Or my sun hose cart which is now about 15 years old and they have replaced parts free no questions asked.
Sometimes it all lies in the quality you buy up front --for example I won't buy any yard equipment that isn't Honda or Husqvarna --- it just outlast the others
Same with AVR ---- Marantz
Be just to be safe on my Pioneer Kuro Elite --- extended warranty that will pay for itself completely if only needed once. Great cost perfomance !
Later,
MidCow2