[nukeman]

DC has an advantage in newness and in materials selection (tiny tiles with lots of grout looks cool for 5 minutes), as well as having relatively fewer station layouts.

t. former NoVa resident

[euroderf]

Putting station walls behind handrails, out of reach of graffiti "artistes", also helps.

[eastbound]

Coping mechanisms always astonish me. No, it is not normal to lose function (passengers/square feet) over uncivil behavior.