When was marriage reduced to a mere commodity?

Marriage seem to be reduced to a mere formality if not a burden, more curse than bliss, more punishment than happiness. The media makes it seem like the moment you put a ring on it and make it official all joy vanishes from the relationship and all that is left is a tortured like pain. That instead of great elation all you get is something more like a prison sentence. It is almost if people are afraid to lose a B/f or G/F than gain a life long spouse. Do people really believe the sex gets dry and stale just because it is under the cloak of marriage? I think it is more people themselves that sabotage the relationship after it is made official than the ring and title itself. I knew people that lived together for years like man and wife, making a home, opening accounts, having and raising kids; just like married people. Many say why do they need to have a ring if they love each other. They seem to make every excuse from making it official as if it just a piece of paper it is not what is in the heart. But it seems they lack something in the heart because they don’t want to lock it up, as if they need an out. Is marriage really just a commodity in a relationship with like value if any?