"we needed to safeguard consumers in 1850 (I exaggerate for effect) in the hotelling business to one guy who rents his house for a couple of weeks a year? If not, what is the difference? "
My law of large numbers: One guy who rents out his house for a couple of weeks is de minimis and can and will be overlooked. 1000 guys who rent out for a couple of weeks is not de minimis. Problems tend to get solved and addressed when there is a bad event or outcome or a large number of people appear to be doing something objectionable to someone. The more events happening the greater the chance of something bad happening, more people being affected and something being done about it.
A single user will fly under the radar. The mere fact that a larger percentage of people are doing something (in this case renting out their rooms) means there is a problem that could happen that needs to be addressed.
My law of large numbers: One guy who rents out his house for a couple of weeks is de minimis and can and will be overlooked. 1000 guys who rent out for a couple of weeks is not de minimis. Problems tend to get solved and addressed when there is a bad event or outcome or a large number of people appear to be doing something objectionable to someone. The more events happening the greater the chance of something bad happening, more people being affected and something being done about it.
A single user will fly under the radar. The mere fact that a larger percentage of people are doing something (in this case renting out their rooms) means there is a problem that could happen that needs to be addressed.