Something I will never understand is the design of the German toilet. I've seen hundreds upon hundreds of German toilets. I've seen them with pull handles, push buttons, levers with stops, and levers without stops. I've seen them in airports, trainstations, trains, hotels, schools, houses, dorms. But, the one thing they (almost) universely have in common is: the inspection plate

At least, that's what we have come to call it. The large majority of German toilets have this...shelf onto which all materials fall. And it all stays there until you flush. (In which case, a courtesy flush takes on new meanings.) And despite how you might try to not look, you will. That's what it's there for: inspection.

Now, I'm assuming the idea is to reduce water usage. And in that sense, they work well. Flushing consists of higher pressure water (at least than in the US). Furthermore, it's very common and considered rude not to clean the toilet after each use (namely due to the design) so that multi-flushing is unneeded. There's a toilet brush next to every commode and the facilities should be clean when you leave. So, in general the end result is not much different than the "sit-in-water" theory of toilets, just the experience.