SNIP
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>I think the real logic here is that here in the USA, we don't give a 2nd thought about ripping down a building to put up a bigger one - and this is a very common practice. So...since the odds are you're going to take down your 4 story building within 50 years to put up a 30 story building anyway...why bother to make it last?

You're probably right.
A short story... back in the late 70s I had a business trip to Europe, so I took 3 weeks vacation after the business.
One thing I wanted to do (just something I had in my head since a kid) was to see the home where my mom grew up in southern England. I had the address.
I found the place but was disappointed that the house was too new to have been the same place. But I took a picture, just to show I'd tried.
Later, back home and a few years after, I was going through some old pictures (my mom's dad (yes, my grandfather, but I never met him) was a professional photographer) and there was my mom in front of her home, in the back garden, etc. Looked familiar, so I dug up the picture I had taken.
Turned out it was the same place. It was still in excellent condition 35+ years after those pictures!