So, people who are more desperate rather than more rich?

yes, but probably a combination of both

Been here 20 years, have done this almost the entire time...

Thats not something to be bragging about...

It really depends what the absolute value of the remaining 50% is. If it's <=$2k/month then yeah, that's pretty bad. If it's $5k/month then you can still live a very nice life and afford many things, in the Bay Area. Don't forget, products bought online still cost the same anywhere in the US (well, almost, there's sales tax involved).

I think people get way too caught up in "oh but I pay <insert large percentage> on housing, that's terrible". It doesn't matter. What matters is how much money you have left after having to pay for rent/mortgage, food, car lease/insurance/registration/gas and utilities. If that amount of money allows you to go to restaurants, go on world trips, buy the latest gadgets/hardware then who cares.

I feel that people complain about this because they imagine some kind of unrealistic scenario "oh, I make $150k/year, imagine how much I would be saving if my rent/mortgage wasn't %50 of my income". Newsflash: rent and mortgages are that high _because_ you (and many others like you) make that amount of money, so pick your poison :) Of course, it's a completely different situation for most people that aren't working as engineers for tech companies in the area...

Rents/Real Estate costs in the Bay Area are artificially inflated because of zoning laws, nimbyism and general lack of supply.

this.

this excessive rent expenditure is landing straight into the pockets of the lucky few who own the land.

And people willing to have 3 roommates.