[Eddy_Viscosity2]

> significantly more profitable for builders to build bigger, more expensive houses

This is also the reason why car buying also sucks so much now. There is more profit it bigger higher trim cars full of features than smaller reliable basic cars.

[cykros]

Some of this is also fuel economy regulation. You can't make an F150 the size they were in 1992 without onerous fees because of the gas mileage the engine will get (while still being able to meet the needs of anyone who wants a truck, such as towing capacity). The regulations are written so that larger vehicles are permitted to have lower gas mileage. As a result, we see the ever growing trucks and SUV's on the road when people would kill for small trucks that companies just will not make anymore.