Earlier quoted context omitted.
In the bay area every home I've lived in had 20A circuits for everything. The NEC 80% rule is only relevant in data centers where someone enforces it. The time-current curve for any 20A breaker shows that it will take infinite time to trip when you draw 20A. This is correct behavior because 12awg wire can handle 20A indefinitely
Do they actually install the 20A outlets with the sideways part? I don't know if I've ever seen one in person. I guess the outlet doesn't matter a whole lot, especially if you take multiple cables to the wall. But I still don't want to be doing unenforced electrical violations.
Consider what happens when you plug two 10A devices into a power strip. In the US there are no true 15A rated outlets. All outlets must handle 20A because the electrical code allows any outlet to be on a 20A breaker.