Unfortunately, we have to deal with them and grow a thick skin.

Some people have success everywhere including 43609 but it requires being able to 100% take your hands off and have superstar property management with thick skin capable of following through with evictions.

I have seen some systems that have decreased the thickness of the install.

Don't fall for that--that's just the aftereffects of the psychological tricks they use to persuade you to buy their big thick binders of Vaguely Useful Information for a thousand bucks before you think too hard about what the hell you're paying for.

Get a large 50 x 50 thick cardboard sigh and stand on a busy internection with the words "We Buy Houses" along with a phone number7.  

The 2mm thickness is cheap at .99 per sq ft and I'm tempted to purchase but I imagine it won't hold up too long as a rental.

I like the idea mentioned above about laying the flooring up to the base, then putting the toe kick on over it.One thing I was reading about was that if you're putting down a thick flooring (like solid wood), you need to account for that by shimming the cabinets up. 

Any idea what the veneer thickness on the top layer is on your floor?

Once you install a thick floating floor (not the thin stuff) you shouldn't be able to tell. 

Based on my digging the general advice is SPC, from 5mm thickness, 20mil wear layer.