Oooh, the developing world would really irk you pal. Getting anything done "correctly" over here in Vietnam and Thailand (where I have mostly lived) is an exercise in futility and frustration. I found so many things that were rigged so that they would just work including taping off breakers that were tripping rather than finding what is making it trip. When large and expensive buildings are made here they bring in international crews and that says a lot about the faith that is had in the local population.
I like the part about your mother, my parents were the same way. I do think that a lot of people simply don't care to do a good job anymore and when it comes to something like plumbers it seems to me that by being a "good" plumber that word of mouth or online reviews of excellence would be their ticket to greater riches... but I guess they just don't care because let's be honest, with everyone pursuing college degrees instead of real-life skills you can be a terrible plumber and still have a totally filled schedule all the time.