> It was explained to me once that there are Asian (specifically, Chinese) attitudes towards thrift that make it inconceivable/impossible to pay for AC that someone else might be using (or misusing). I don't know how true that is.

I don't know how true it is either, but I can provide some mild support.

Several years ago a vicious heat wave hit Shanghai, and the subway stations filled with people taking advantage of the air conditioning. I asked a friend about this -- I don't see the subway station as a particularly nice place to hang out, since it's loud -- and the response was "they all have air conditioning at home, but they don't want to pay for it".