> To have the most expensive thing I own be a bicycle would be splendid.

This is the reason why your opinion differs from the car drivers, I guess.

Owning my own home and significant items that I need for my lifestyle is a hard requirement for me. It's not a nice to have, I will compete with others until I have them, because otherwise I'll be competing for my entire life for rent, until someone inevitably outcompetes the older, less vivacious me.