But NM is not allowed in Chicago.
From early in my career this debate has always bugged me. Why NM cable is not allowed in many public access buildings? We tend to think it is unsafe, and will cost lives in places where people are either awake and alert, or at least there is enough people around to alert others if there is a problem, plus there generally fire alarms or fire suppression involved for additional safety.
But there is nothing wrong with using NM cable in our homes where we sleep at night without as many possibilities in general to alert us if there is a problem
Then we come back and say there maybe is a problem with NM in the dwellings and throw AFCI's at it as a solution, I would rather see a ban of NM cable altogether and forget the AFCI's.