Leaf blowers are much more efficient though. They're not just using them because they're loud and polluting, they're using them despite those attributes, because they easily quadruple a person's effectiveness with regards to moving large amounts of leaves on a flat surface.

I'd be OK with just leaving the leaves on the ground, to be honest.

They start to decompose and get slippery pretty quickly. It’s a safety concern.

If you’re on gravel or sand I agree, leaf blowers are way better. But honestly on Asphalt they seem less effective than a big wide broom.

Yes and leaf blowers were not a common sight in America until the late 80s. How did we get through life before then?

Less efficiently. You can get by without leaf blowers, you just need more people and it takes longer. You can get by without computers, you just need more people and it takes longer. You can get by without machines, you just need more people and it takes longer.

We tend to favor things that are more efficient, and it's hard to go back, because the citizenry won't be happy if you tell them your plans of quadrupling the work force and raising taxes accordingly.

Less machines, less maintenance, less pollution, less taxes.