A glance up at the ceiling reveals scores of meaty connectors placed symmetrically on both sides of the large beams across the entire roof. They're designed to hold the roof together when the walls start to wobble. Smaller beams are held at right angles to the major beams using U-shaped hangers that can allow the beams to drop to the floor if they come out of the holder during shaking. In other places, the ends of the beams are held together with straps and a few bolts. Bolt holes are often drilled too big in an effort to speed installation.
Sloppy installation can greatly weaken the connection's holding capacity and reliability.
Construction problems can increase the price, including difficulty gaining access to beams hidden behind false ceilings. It's like going from 0 to 60 miles per hour. The building code's claim to promote life safety is based on the state of the art at the time of building design. Newer buildings have caused relatively few deaths in California. Some of it has been luck, but in general, newer buildings have fulfilled the code objective of life safety.