Yes, I'm up in Rhode Island and have a fairly shady yard...not great combo for tomatoes.I'm in Missouri, and tomatoes love HOT weather as long as they've got plenty to drink. They grow like crazy in this hot, humid summer climate. So the size is probably just a regional difference!
Thankfully, I don't actually LIKE them, so not being able to grow them isn't the worst for me. I wish I had a bit more sun so I could grow more peppers, though.