So having more freedom to make different lifestyle choices is viewed as suicidal by some ?
And on the financial side, there's more to consider than just cost of rent vs cost of owning.
In my industry, switching jobs every few years is the fastest way to increase your salary, especially early in your career.
Because hiring budgets are higher than raise/retention budgets industry wide.
If you are a homeowner, you are less likely to be seeking out these better job opportunities, especially out of your home area. And it's harder to pull the trigger even if the opportunity presented itself.
Renting provides more flexibility both financially and lifestyle wise. It's not suicidal.