I do not assume all people want to rent, merely that there exist renters who would prefer to buy but do not. People do rent for many reasons, but in my cohort t

I do not assume all people want to rent, merely that there exist renters who would prefer to buy but do not. People do rent for many reasons, but in my cohort the primary reason is "cannot afford to buy", and I don't think that's unusual. As I pointed out, homes would be strictly easier to purchase with fewer landlords in the market. I don't think my comparisons are absurd, which is why I made them: They are illustrative. Just as loan sharks occasionally do provide valuable loans to people with no other option, so too do landlords occasionally provide valuable flexibility. However, it's not their primary effect.