Yeah -- the original intent behind Manhattan's grid system was not some sort of usability or urbanist thought, but to "open up" the land for real estate specula

Yeah -- the original intent behind Manhattan's grid system was not some sort of usability or urbanist thought, but to "open up" the land for real estate speculation. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioners%27_Plan_of_1811 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioners%27_Plan_of_1811