I would say Taizhou is a very crummy place to live.

I'd agree but I think it depends on which part. Linhai is a nice enough place. But going in you know it is not hangzhou or shanghai so what do you expect? I think FT's need to make the appropriate "attitude adjustment" when it comes to moving to more rural, and smaller, chinese cities. BTW, Taizhou is not small, very large in fact.