“What about the practice of men using mirrors for cosmetic purposes? Is that a reasonable analogy?”
I understand what you’re getting at, but no. The issur of using a mirror was specifically based on the societal norm that only women used mirrors. Since that societal norm changed, the issur went away. Air conditioners are a problem because they make loud noise, that hasn’t changed. If someone were to make a silent AC, I would imagine it would warrant a new psak.