I agree that these places are not that bad statistically – I've heard horror stories and Craigslist is full of places like this – but I would never live in any of these apartments and I was able to find great apartments with lots of light and space (in Brooklyn, mind you) for under $1200.

I've actually always wondered who takes apartments like these. Either people with no taste, no plans to ever be home, or no time to hunt (it usually takes a week or two to find a good place).