Spray foam is the most expensive way to get R-value. Unless you have space constraints, or existing air sealing concerns, you should not use spray foam.
It makes sense that the asbestos stuff would be required for a building that has asbestos. Improper remediation can cause harms outside of your property.
The R-value also makes sense IMO. "You can't build houses that aren't properly insulated" is probably a net good -- although only if the insulation level makes sense for the region. If it's too high, I agree with you.
I don't think it's fair to complain about the cost of solar if it's not required.
> I don't think it's fair to complain about the cost of solar if it's not required.
I didn't read the solar comment as a complaint but rather an additional enumeration of costs. They wanted solar so it's a non-zero cost on the house. They could have also gone with the cheapest-to-regular slab thickness and saved money but didn't.
R-value required. This was the easiest/least expensive option.
Solar not required. If we didn't do it, we're paying ~$5k for power every year.