How Long Does a Refrigerator Last?

I was just wondering how long does a refrigerator last?

My current refrigerator is 7 and a half years old and it is starting to give me trouble. Things have started melting things in freezer and lower refrigerated part doesn't keep milk and other foods cold.

I have read lots of refrigerator reviews and have seen that many refrigerators last even less than my current one. So am I lucky to have actually gotten so many years out of this top freezer refrigerator? If I am, that just sounds wrong because I remember when you could buy a refrigerator and it could last you an entire lifetime or at the very least 15-20 years.

When did a refrigerator become disposable? The idea of spending that kind of money in less than 10 years seems outrageous.

If this really is the case, then are there any refrigerators out there that tend to last longer than others? If so, which brand and model do you recommend?