You're going to need to present some evidence for this, I think. I don't even know what an "inferior toilet" is. I've pooped in a lot of SF toilets and can assure you that they've all gotten the job done satisfactorily.
I've lived in California my whole life, and I have to agree with the sentiment that our water fixtures are not what they used to be 40 years ago. For example, the shower head we wanted to get is illegal in California, because the flow is too high. When we bought a new toilet we had to get the low flow toilet, which definitely clogs more than the old ones did.
What I don't agree with is that this bad. These are minor inconveniences. Sometimes I have to use the plunger, and the shower is less relaxing. Not a big deal. I'd rather that than water rationing.
Early in the pandemic I bought a bidet, not wanting to compete with the demand for toilet paper. Since then there has been a huge decrease in frequency of plunger use in the house. Once you get used to it it generally seems like a big increase in quality of life.
How can you say that when the evidence is drastically against you? Even in this thread it was pointed out that gross water usage is down for decades across the state and especially in the cities.
This is clearly positive given that just a few years ago we were on the brink of water rationing, even with these measures in place.
TL;DR: Toilets clog more with lower GPF. Showers clean less effectively - you only need to go to a country with no "eco" pressure or flow rate limitations to notice this yourself. Washing machines and dishwashers perform poorly with low flow rate and no TSP.
Basically any appliance that people complain about and have a bad time with is only that way because of environmental regulations.
> I don't even know what an "inferior toilet" is
That's because you're used to using garbage and you've never experienced anything better.
Toilets are probably the least acute example, since they have mostly gotten them almost back up to their former reliability. Cleaning appliances, like showers and dishwashers, are the most acute.
> That's because you're used to using garbage and you've never experienced anything better.
I grew up in Pennsylvania for the first 21 years of my life, moved to SF for seven, and have lived in Chicago for 3. I've traveled pretty extensively. I can assure you I know how toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines, and dishwashers work. As someone with a breadth of life experience and full control of my faculties, I cannot say I've experienced any of the issues you describe. Do not make assumptions about my life experience.
If _anything_ the worst issue I've experienced in some parts of SF is low water pressure, which has nothing to do with fixtures or appliances and everything to do with infrastructure.
You can only reduce quality of life so much.