Who ever thought it was a good idea to plumb water of all things into a fridge in the first place? I mean, the majority of problems in modern refridgerators IS the ice maker. I just bought a fridge 18 months ago and it's almost impossible to buy one WITHOUT an ice maker (more like ice breaker). I ended up taking it out and sold it on Ebay. Prefer more space in the freezer.
You have to remember when ice makers first started showing up in refrigerator / freezers in the early 70's, most ALL were plumbed with flared 1/4" copper tubing, and were very simple. The "kits" to install them came with a 12 foot roll of it, because you had to run water from underneath the sink, and usually drill a hole through the side of one of the kitchen cabinets. Because back then homes were not built with a water valve in the wall behind the fridge, like they are today.
They had a manual arm you lifted up or down, to turn them on and off. If you left them alone the arm would automatically be pushed up when the bin was full of ice.
When you wanted ice you went into the freezer and got some. No trays to clean and mess with, or having to fill and empty all the time.
They used 1/4" copper lines because back in the 70's that was code in most all municipalities. Plastic under pressure was not allowed. Let alone the thin walled, flexible plastic tubing that is used almost exclusively today.
These ice makers were very reliable and cheap. (I paid $50.00 for a Kenmore back then, and all it did was run and make ice....... For 14 straight years).
Today "push together" plastic lines and fittings under pressure are EVERYWHERE, as is water damage in homes from blown supply lines. The ice makers are huge, complex, and expensive. Now they involve doors that open and close to allow the ice to drop through directly into the glass.
Also, most employ a grinder for "crushed ice", along with even more plumbing and valves, to accommodate a chilled water tank, brand specific water filter, and dispenser in the door. More lines, more valves, push on or twist water filters = more leaks and potential failure. Not to mention the prices have gone through the roof on these things.
Once again they took a good idea, combined with a simple design that did nothing but work, all for a reasonable price. And over engineered the crap out of it, cheapened it up wherever they possibly could, and in the process made it expensive, unreliable, and prone to failure. And all of it comes at a insanely ridiculous price. Welcome to the future.