I think this is spot on for the most part. However, I think you're discounting "bedroom communities." Chicago does them quite well - you can own a reasonably pr

I think this is spot on for the most part. However, I think you're discounting "bedroom communities." Chicago does them quite well - you can own a reasonably priced home in an urban neighborhood at a comfortable level of density. Not the inner city, not downtown, but not exurban sprawl either. You get a backyard, but a small one. You may need a car for domestic life, but for work you can drive or bike to the train station and ride commuter rail like Metra to avoid freeway congestion. This, to me, is the best of both worlds - people get their quasi-suburban experiences, but the city still thrives and people don't waste their lives in traffic.