Not to be argumentative because I agree with you guys on most of of your points, but I work for a very profitable electrical service company and we do everything to code and we state it with the customer before we start working. It is true people want what they want. For liability reasons we only install what meets code and if they want something else we pass on the work, we lose some, but we gain more from that policy than we lose. Keep up the great work everyone.
I notice your profile reads 'commercial' in all fairness. Good for your situation but the dialog pain I am reading here is how the resi industry is really getting whacked because of Title 24 requirements. The bureaucracy has handcuffed the public where it hurts and in turn has caused more bootleg installations that go unchecked for safety compliance.
The NEC needs to be overhauled to match the technological materials available differing residential from commercial. The change can revise the playing field for load distribution that can permit integrating old installations with new extensions without breaking the bank.
Once upon a time, energy conservation was a blessing for commercial facility management economics that has now taken an extreme turn to overt regulation that favors big business and manufacturing profitability. Energy management implementation in the early 80's was an answer to the three-tier penalty costs (400 %) from the utility companies levied on peak hour usages.
I would be greeted like a king for reducing commercial business costs to 3k that were paying out $10k monthly utility bills. Those facility guzzlers ran high tonnage A/C equipment 24/7 along with walk-in freezers with their doors wide open. In the oil crisis, costs even moved higher when the nuclear plants needed additional line support in the summer heat.
The industry is hurting for everyone...Had to chime in here to let every one know that progress does have its rewards, but I do feel bad about how you guys are being thrown against the proverbial bus.