"and now my inspector has said that if I dont use the pvc I will fail the inspection.
could this be a local thing or a new thing that the aria has adopted?"
Did you ask why? If it were exposed, he might be shooting for physical damage as the reason.
334.15(B) Protection from Physical Damage. The cable shall be protected from physical damage where necessary by conduit, electrical metallic tubing, Schedule 80 PVC rigid nonmetallic conduit, pipe, guard strips, listed surface metal or nonmetallic raceway, or other means. Where passing through a floor, the cable shall be enclosed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, Schedule 80 PVC rigid nonmetallic conduit, listed surface metal or nonmetallic raceway, or other metal pipe extending at least 150 mm (6 in.) above the floor.
"where necessary", in the first sentance is subject to interpetation. (The second sentance is not.) My area considers any romex below 8' subject to damage. So often I pipe to a gutter above.
