If you are willing to suffer like that (have roommates, not have all the kids you might want, not have a stay-at-home parent...) to deal with the cost of rent in San Francisco, then you can also do it elsewhere and live even cheaper. Detroit could be nearly free.
So, that doesn't help SF or NYC. The cost-saving measures work elsewhere too, getting you something better or an even lower cost.
Living in a place like The Ghost Ship is not good for you, even if you don't actually die in a fire.
Who would have more money in the bank at the end of the year? A software developer in SF spending $40k on rent, or a software developer in Detroit spending $0 on rent?
How about developer trying to pool two high incomes together to make mortgage every month after obliterating years of savings on a down payment, versus one that can easily afford to buy a house with whatever amenities one wants including an easy commute putting 20% down (less than a year's savings) and paying less than 40% of the take home pay per month?
The second option is a true story of me here in Chicago.
Most of the houses that sell for 'free'/'cheap' have been scavenged over by neighbors and similar. Things like dry wall being ripped out to get copper wiring to sell isn't unusual.
So, that doesn't help SF or NYC. The cost-saving measures work elsewhere too, getting you something better or an even lower cost.
Living in a place like The Ghost Ship is not good for you, even if you don't actually die in a fire.