Is it more efficient in America? Yeah. Is part of that scene her being bored while waiting? Yeah. Are gas prices there probably a bit higher? Yeah.
But there really was something appetizing about it. I’m not sure I could put my finger on exactly what.
In an ideal world (yeah, I know), it should result in them being paid for what they actually do.
Which is to say, it is sometimes a fallacy, but often, it is not. We have far more intercoms and automatic door openers than doormen.
The Doorman Fallacy is exactly this—thinking that one function of a job is the whole job. The doorman doesn't just open doors nor relay messages. They're eyes and ears, security, friendliness, an extra hand with bags, local knowledge, emergency response... The list goes on and on. Almost none of their functions can be replaced with an intercom.
The value of the doorman isn't the intercom functionality.
People like doorman buildings because the building has a real person with eyes on the premises at all times.
An intercom or automatic door opening system can't deal with delivery people who can't figure out the intercom system, don't follow delivery instructions, leave your package/food somewhere random, etc. And that's only a fraction of the value a doorman provides.
An intercom system won't deter trespassers, petty crime, etc.
As long as the building is large enough, the cost is negligible.
I randomly picked a listing in NYC, 219 East 69th Street. 145 apartments on 13 floors.
Let's say you're paying a doorman 24/7 at $30/hour, that's $150/month/resident.
I’m sure it’s similarly true for travel agents, real estate agents, probably lawyers, etc. Just because there are circumstances when someone values them doesn’t automatically justify them everywhere or refute that many of them basically don’t do anything.