Did we decide that in a vacuum? Like by some kind of super informed vote? Or did a system designed to maximize profits hide the downside, promote the upsides, and convince us to do it, to their financial benefit?

And now that it is the norm, are people defending it because they actually agree, or are they just afraid of change and too weak to fight it now that it is normal?

I notice bad ideas usually die with a few defenders, whose arguments can be summed up with "it just works for me" in the face of all evidence. Suburbs seem to be one of those concepts.