It's a different animal than property taxes (which we have in Colombia too.)

If you want to comparison shop high speed internet access, for example, you have to get a quote from each provider, as the rate is based on your estrato. Things have gotten better recently but until the last couple years, those rates were just in a big binder in the office, not something you could just look up online. I feel it hurts competition - providers can’t just advertise a monthly rate - and I can only imagine the added complexity in billing systems, etc, that ultimately is passed on to the consumer.

Well, is this really wrong? If I get work done on my house as a young person, I pay as much as 10x what the same workman would charge my grandmother in law. The workman knows he/she can get away with charging a young person who doesn't have to live off social insurance more. The workman would never get the job from a retired in Prague if they charged what they charge yong people. However, if they charged everyone the reduced rate, then they would never cover the cost of tools and training.