I consider it 'normal' to have a vehicle that can tow and be at least a hatchback, if not an mini MPV / estate. I do that not because I need the space 'most days', but I need the space some times and am willing to pay the price of driving such a vehicle. [1]
I don't consider it a normal requirement to be able to sustain parking lights overnight because I would never be parking anywhere that required such. If I had to it would be because I had broken down and would hope to be recovered before the battery went flat.
Do I think you should be able? Possibly.
No, you just wouldn't put yourself in the position of needing them.
Oh dear. Just because you exist in a perfect world, don't assume everyone else does. I have had neighbours finding themselves with a battery unable to start their car on a very cold morning and after some heavy use the day before, asking to borrow a charger or for a jump start and then as soon as the weather get's warmer they don't have any further problems. Is that right, probably not, is that what many people do, of course.
Does all it should under what circumstances?
No such thing mate..
What, they fit a better battery in the UK because you might go on holiday to a cold place?
My point is (and as you say) a battery is a consumable and *will* lose it's capacity over time. You may well have a strict threshold where you will buy and fit a new / bigger battery, most people don't. I'm not saying what thy do is right, just that's how it is in the real world.
They only stop doing 'their job' when that job is outside the normal requirements.
Ok, your battery would give you say one overnight of parking lights, but what would you do if you had to be there two or three? Who determines what is considered acceptable? Does it state in the handbook, nor many hours you should be able to leave the parking lights on, and against a range of temperatures and battery ages?
'Cango', is that d-i-y play-on-words joke? ;-)
So, no answers then?
Cheers, T i m
[1] When I had a company car (support tech) I had an estate, we all did. When one of the sales boys asked to borrow my car as he was moving house and offered me his XR3i in return I said 'no thanks'.I had no use for an XR3i and it didn't have a towbar ... or much internal space.
He tried to push the fact that it was a Company car and as he was an employee ... it was explained to him that he had made his choice and that our cars were not 'pool cars' and were part of our 'package', (that we paid tax on).