Modern Cars!

What is it with modern car manufacturers? In the (Good) old days comparatively minor jobs could be carried out using a set of rusty spanners of all denominations, and a simple job like changing an alternator could be done in a matter of a few minutes. Today I have spent several hours just trying to remove the alternator from the daughter's MG ZR and I have failed so to do!
The reason being there is a split-pin type hinge in the top bolt of the alternator, The nut and bolt only serve to tighten that up, so the bracket has to be removed. One bracket bolt is reachable but the second one is tucked in behind the alternator to a point that if you had fingers like ET attached to the hands of a small gynaecologist and two opposing elbows on each arm you might be able to reach it!
OK, any mechanics reading this probably think I am a total clown. I admit, I am to mechanics what King Herod was to baby-sitting, but life shouldn't be that difficult. If I could afford to insure the damned car I would be tempted to set fire to it.
Why am I getting so worked up? it isn't even my car! But little wonder MG/Rover went down the pan. Do not ever even be tempted to buy an MG ZR