I don't know if this is an American thing or not, but to a Dutch person this remark is rather revolting.
In The Netherlands, if you pay for your home it is your right to live there, regardless of how you finance it. Home owners are not somehow more privileged than renters are.
> no one near Chicago wants to waste their money living in the city unless they want to be in the heart of the city and enjoy the scene.
As I understand it, the problem in San Francisco is not just about the city center, it's the entire 40 miles radius around the Google campus and other SV hotspots where rents and housing prices have increased so much young adults can't afford in the areas they grew up in anymore.
> If you can't afford that, then perhaps you didn't make very good choices in your life
You are a disgusting person.
> you should try and find a way to achieve that goal without inflicting pain (stress, wasted time, etc.) on others
This would be nice in an ideal society, but in a liberal society like the U.S., this simply isn't an option for many people.