Why are there even small plots?

[UkcsAlias]

I never teleport inside because I can't teleport to my house as to do that requires one of those 20 items to be an Aetheryte

Which on that can just be stored seperately (as it already does now) in memory. For your teleport option there is no reason to render the entire region. Technicaly the aetheryte isnt even needed to be built (similar to appartments). And for the stable they could also give house owners the ability to use the appartment one. This then would at least save up 2 slots.

And it doesnt matter about large plots and small plots, because its in the end simply just a total number. 5 extra objects on 20 small plots is still significantly more than 20 extra objects on 3 large plots. This is why large plots can get higher limits a bit easier, the impact is lower. Its most likely decided based on the available space anyway. The effect is however amplified by some sort of mandatory objects. If that are 5 objects (aetheryte, dummy, stable, gardening, mailbox), then the effective limits for S/M/L are 15/24/33. Which makes the situation appear a bit worse. And this can appear more excessive by having a few low level details, since those details often also work similar at a mansion. Thats why it looks like they can build this excessive.

So in short, reduce the mandatory objects by handling these automaticly and that is a much more effective way to get more objects in a garden without increasing actual limits. Especialy since those objects are very likely to appear acros many estates, its generaly well managable rendering wise (even with several versions, the game can decide to load in those versions regardless). This could potentialy give those wasted slots back. (and on that, if you do not place such object, it wont grant that extra slot). Especiualy the stable, dummy, aetheryte and mailbox seem to me like very suitable candidates. Which on that would free up 4 slots.

Another thing is, dynamic object scaling (an object can be repeated several times in a row, and still count as 1) could be used to make objects more flexible as it makes furnishings better capable of covering the area you want them to cover. Like for example scaling something fence wide would help a lot at saving objects. And i would not be surprised if objects actualy can do this. The stable after all already renders the chocobo inside it. For objects that are well suitable for LoD adjustments this can do a lot (too far away and plants wont render for example). This is the sort of optimizing that would generaly be a lot better as it also solves a secondary issue. This could make an object that otherwise would take 3 slots to only take 1.