> The extreme opposite of that would hordes of people (or robots) with nail clippers patrolling everything 24/7.

Hordes of robots constantly and meticulously maintaining entire cities sounds awesome, actually. That's the post scarcity society I dream of.

> Or take cutting your fingernails: do it once a week, do it daily, or why not every second?

We only need to choose because we lack the technology. Maybe one day we'll have Deus Ex style nanobot pills we can swallow. They will invisibly and continuously maintain our bodies for us. Nails are just one of countless things they will maintain.