This seems like a false dichotomy. Politicians try to attract new businesses because those businesses, if nothing else, attract these things called employees. The advantage of the approach is that you can try to attract more of the kinds of residents you want instead of just "anybody". Most places have plenty of "anybody" already.
What else does better as a medium of attraction for worthwhile people? Walkability? Save that for the Europeans who pretend like boasting Paris and (formerly) London qualifies them to talk about managing large cities. Civil services? I'm salaried and I've got a car, the only reason I'd use most common civil services is either because my ride is in the shop or I was literally stabbed and needed the ER. Otherwise you couldn't /pay/ me to deal with the kinds of people who take the bus. Meanwhile parks and libraries are for the homeless and parents in denial about the times.
What else does better as a medium of attraction for worthwhile people? Walkability? Save that for the Europeans who pretend like boasting Paris and (formerly) London qualifies them to talk about managing large cities. Civil services? I'm salaried and I've got a car, the only reason I'd use most common civil services is either because my ride is in the shop or I was literally stabbed and needed the ER. Otherwise you couldn't /pay/ me to deal with the kinds of people who take the bus. Meanwhile parks and libraries are for the homeless and parents in denial about the times.
So what's left to brag about to attract people?