The instructions may recommend preheating, but with the two air fryers that I’ve had in my life, for both of them I found myself taking off last minute or two because it tends to overcook. Doesn’t matter if it’s anecdotal, directions are words on paper and they can’t understand the reality of the rules they set.
The people who write directions aren’t thinking of use, they’re thinking of legal consequences. Any company that makes an air fryer would rather have you burn your food than eat it undercooked.
Cars are much wider now than they used to be. Garages that were built more than 50 years ago likely are thinner.