I have noticed very online communities were outraged about this and other people I knew in real life weren't. I wonder if it's because people who dominate HN and reddit are more likely to spend their college life in their dorm, where a windowless environment would naturally get depressing very quickly.

My dorm room was windowless when I went to university and I didn't notice because I was only there when it was dark anyway. But I remember I got the flu once and was inside for a while and I very distinctly recall that the lack of natural lightcycle began to take its toll. Still, cheaper room and board would be my preference.