They did it that way because it is cheap. I replaced all of those cheap plastic valves with metal ones. My fridge water valve looked like yours and I was able to replace it. The only difference with the fridge valve was that the diameter of the pipe was a hair different, so be sure to use the correct size valve.

Yes darn heavy. Just vacuum once a year the coils

True. But, a sheet vinyl, laminate, or wood floor can be easily damaged by those small wheels. I always use a plexiglass sheet to protect the floor.

Heavy Refrigerator
 

I use an electric leaf blower on my refrigerator coils. Cleans them like new & worth the clean up of dust.

What about the Samsung auto ice maker problem? Talk about hutzpa….

It’s cheap, that’s why.

Do your research on water supply lines. Do you ever change your washer hoses?

Water supply hoses whether they are connected to your washer, refrigerator, sink, etc, most have a rated lifespan where they are not likely to leak or burst of around 5 years. Do many last longer, yes but you will never know when there will be a problem. That said if we had "normal" valves where you could easily unscrew the old hose and install a new one, it's relatively inexpensive mainentance that can be done by most homeowners or by a plumber or handiman.
From my experience working as a plumbers helper many years ago we found that the hose connector and or the valve could start leaking and in most cases homeowners didn't see it, especially behind the refrigerator and depending on the type of floor or under the sink it would usually do damage. Some hoses would just plain burst. When that happens depending on if you were home or not would depend if you needed to call a company like Service Pro or not to get all the water out of your house and repair the damage. So that said, you can do whatever you want. Be proactive and try to avoid a problem or just let it go and deal with the consequences large or small when it happens, and it will happen eventually.

From what i'm reading i'll have to try and pull the existing valve out and either replace it with the same or try to connect another type. Worst case i can cut the whole thing out of the wall and replace it.

For those who did or going to have the work done, any recommendations on someone who has done this before?

Check your manual or YouTube for your model …. You probably will NOT need to shut the water off to replace the filter . When you twist the filter to remove, the water is shut off automatically at that install point …..

water filter
 

You don't have to turn off the water to replace the filter.

Not sure if all homes are the same. The original post said behind the refrigerator. Ours is also a recessed box. Perhaps to prevent the refrigerator from hitting it if you push it back too far.

I have a battery water alarm behind my refrigerator and under every sink and toilet. If there is water on the floor, it will sound an alarm. You can buy about 6 or 7 of them from Amazon for about $100. Not perfect, but cheap peace of mind. I think in today's world, plastic valves and supply lines are normal. And, paying a plumber to replace 10-12 valves and supply lines every 5 years would be very expensive.

I've read that as well. I do turn off the water-just in case. I think the filter lasts like 4 months the replacement warning is actually controlled by time not water use. You do not need to roll the refrigerator out to change the filter. As we shut the water off, we need to pull the refrigerator out and use that as an opportunity to vacuum under the refrigerator and THE COILS which should be done anyway. With our hard water, it is probably not a bad idea to open and close the valves once a year to be sure they still work.

Our previous home was built in 1948. We had all copper plumbing and valves. Replacing valves every 5 years? They only lasted 73 years are are still working fine. A leaking faucet? There is no way this plumbing or likely these homes will last 73 years.
But, then neither will I.
You rebuilt it with a five cent rubber washer. Even the seats were replaceable. I did replace the ball cocks with the plastic ones but they too were originally made of metal and you could simply replace the rubber parts. Oh and parts. They were universal, you did not have to find the one made by your toilet manufacturer or faucet manufacturer.
Yup, a lot has changed. A lot of it is filling landfills.

Both homes and people are different. We have ceramic tile in the kitchen. We have a large refrigerator, our is Whirlpool and it is on wheels. Far as I know all refrigerators are on wheels. If, you have laminate or ????? floors the wheels may damage the floor. We have ceramic floor and no problem.

We have whatever they call the side by side doors on a refrigerator so you can grab the hinges on both sides. So ours is perhaps easier than others.

Just yesterday I had Mike Scott Plumbing replace two valves and hoses on my laundry sink. The cold water hose was leaking and required replacement, house was built 2012. Both valves were replaced and new steel braided hoses installed, with service call, parts and labor $203.00.