Central Vacuums have come a long way with vast feature array
Two of the most popularly recommended lines right now are MD and VacuFlo. CycloVacs is also very good but many seem to be going with VacUFlo over that.
A consumer could get a basic Beam or low end Nutone setup that had a single motor setup or have a triple motor setup running in series. There are units that power off a standard 110 Volt outlet and units that have their own dedicated 220V breaker in a panel. Depending on the system, and how motors are wired in series, they can provide enough power for 3 or more users all to be connected on one system and each having more than enough power to spin an air driven TurboCat nozzle.
Back in the 90s and beyond, the case would be that a user carried a 25' - 35' heavy vinyl/ rubber hose around the home and plugged it into various outlets. Outlets can be direct power on where the hose powers a straight suction system with no controls, to a fancier direct connect inlet with power nozzle connection. The hoses would be 3 way control for Off, Suction Only, Suction and Power Nozzle.
The current major trend in centrals is piped stored hose, otherwise known as Chameleon valve setups or Hide-A-Hose. Basically a 60' or other length hose stores in piping in the wall and is pulled out and locked into a position when a customer wants to use it. With many homes having hard flooring as the current trend, the straight suction setup works great and conusmers attached an air turbine nozzle or battery operated power nozzle for the limited carpeting they have. Or conusumers can still get standard outlets with now crush resistant hoses. The crush resistant hoses are about 1/3 the weight of old rubber/ vinyl hoses from back in the day.... Think about the heavy hoses that canister vacs such as Eureka Rotomatic, Kenmore Whispertone, Hoover Dimension 1000 had compared to current models like a Sebo D4 canister, Eurekas of the 2000s, Riccar, Miele.
I don't know where the user got the idea that the systems leak. A professional installer glues central vac piping together. The piping is run in a way that the tightest 90 degree angle in the system is just behind the outlet so that if a long object like a pen gets sucked in, it stops right at the outlet and doesn't get trapped somewhere in wall piping. The systems are pressure checked to ensure that all hose inlets whether Hide-A-Hose, WallyFlex for cleaning out the dryer or at a workstation, Vroom setup for quick grab around the kitchen, VacPan and any other installed outlets are properly sealed and system is reaching proper CFMs, and water lift according to manufacturer specs. The technical term for the unit is called Working Vacuum Pressure and a professional installer like many on this group or on FB vac groups could get into and discuss the gauge they use.
There are many many options for a central vac. I have seen them installed in trailer homes, to churches and commercial properties.