The air in SF is typically very clear. You just happen to be here when the air is bad due to wildfires. The fog is a great air purifier.
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Cash-only restaurants are most common in Asian restaurants due to the low-profit margins. So I wouldn't say it's "typical"....it's just more common because you happen to live near Chinatown.
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Criticism of how early everything closes is valid. However it's gotten worse since COVID. Ironically, the best places to go for after-hours eats are those places in Chinatown that take cash only. :)
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As for the rude people...that's sorta weird as I have never experienced that as someone born and raised in SF. One thing to note is that you live in the "downtown" area which has a specific character. There's the entire west side of the city, ie the outer Sunset and Outer Richmond that you've probably never even explored. While those areas are considered the "burbs", there are a ton of interesting places and restaurants there.