Again, though, I think you are imagining a hard-and-fast distinction where there is none. Fundamentally, if I'm considering buying a house, I have to ask myself

Again, though, I think you are imagining a hard-and-fast distinction where there is none. Fundamentally, if I'm considering buying a house, I have to ask myself what the projected financial outcome is if I buy a house versus if I invest the potential down payment and continue to rent. Asking people not to make this analysis is asking them to throw rationality out the window, and I'm not sure how that would help the situation in the slightest.