jkarolyi - re. CS article. My pleasure! I'm sorry it took so long to get it to you guys.
One thing can be relied upon with the Laguna Beach slide that no one would consider with trailer homes - that's the cost of these million-dollar houses. Money talks in housing, in other words.
All this will set a legal precedent for whenever someone wants to build in the hills - lots of geological checks, for example. New building codes, etc. Is it a good thing? I suppose.
I believe no one should build in the hills or on the beach, and partly because of their own safety could be compromised in an earthquake, slide, tsunami, etc.