Tenant laws = not worse than NJ.
Lawsuits = scams of that type exist on the East Coast as well — i.e. someone pulls in front of you, slams on the brakes, making you rear-end them. Then sues for personal injury. Rare, but it happens.
People = I’ll take East Coast or CA over Phoenix any day.
Climate = I wouldn’t want to live OR do business in a place where 100*F+ is common. Or where it’s humid and 90*F five months of the year. I don’t handle heat well. This rules out Phx, LV, and Florida.