Idle Doodle: California Smog check mostly not about smog

Hypothetically...

I had to send my car for a smog check recently. 

As I prepared to get my aftermarket turboback exhaust system swapped out for OEM for the check, I found out that the rules in California had changed recently. Now, ECU reflashes or custom tunes are no longer permitted unless the new tune or map is specifically approved by the state of California, even though there are ECU tunes that make cars more fuel efficient. Nope, sorry. It's illegal to make your car more environmentally friendly if it's not specifically approved by the state. So great, now I have to get out my AccessPort and reflash my ECU back to stock.

Then I found out that aftermarket catalytic converters are no longer legal to buy or sell in the state, and it seems like shops are not allowed to install aftermarket systems, either. Well, damn it. It kind of smells like my old aftermarket catalytic converter might be starting to not filter the air as well as before, so now I can't replace it unless I drive out to Reno and buy the part there.

Hypothetically, of course.

Many of these rules have nothing to do with smog. For example, my hypothetical aftermarket catalytic converter, when it was younger, has hypothetically been smogged and it hypothetically passed the sniffer test, the machine that measures emissions.

But it's still illegal to have it on because it's not "California approved".

Why?

If a catalytic converter cleans out the smog within the standards set forth by California, what does it matter who made it? Isn't this about making the air cleaner as it says in its official brochure? Are they saying a Subaru catalytic converter that cleans x amount is magically better than a Titek catalytic converter that cleans the exact same amount? It makes as much sense as California enacting a law saying a computer must have a maximum of a 500 watt power supply in your computer, but you must use Dell branded power supplies for your computer. A Corsair 450 watt power supply, even though it's below the power threshold would be illegal, cuz politicians. A Dell 450 watt power supply would be legal, cuz...politicians. You think that might make Dell power supplies more expensive, costing computer owners more to repair their computers? You think this smog program might increase the price of OEM manufactured parts to the detriment of consumers?

Wait, you think there are automotive lobbyists in Sacramento? You think they might be more powerful than the aftermarket exhaust manufacturer lobby? Hrm...