I agree, this isn't about trying to save money on one stick of conduit. It was proving damn near impossible to find any sch 80 1-1/2" pvc conduit in Cleveland Ohio. HD and Lowe's around here only stock 2" sch80 and two of the 5 stores I visited were out of that. This morning I was finally able to find a piece through one of my vendors by going through his vendor. Everyone else was going to have to special order it. It is crazy.
In the end I think the argument could be made that the area that I am installing this in would not be subject to physical damage. It is against the house, behind the A/C and 6' of landscaping on one end and similar at the garage end minus the A/C. But, whatever I have my sch 80, I'm happy and the inspector should be as well
