At iFixit, our bottom line is durability and repairability, and their impact on electronics waste.

The new Apple EarPods do have significant improvements in durability:

The new remote is better sealed against water damage, and features strain relief wrapping to increase the life of the cable.

Paper speaker cones are more resistant to tearing than plastic, decreasing the likelihood of blowing out your drivers.

But unfortunately, these products are still of the throw-away kind. Sourcing parts is next to impossible, and it would be a tough sell to convince someone to take apart their earbuds instead of buying a new pair. They will never be the same once taken apart.