I am one of those that grew up in the 'burbs (30 years). Evac'ed to NYC and now I have pretty much the opposite reaction: 1 week in the suburbs is nice but afterwards it bores me to tears. And if I do need my occasional outdoors fix (which I definitely do), I can hop on a northbound train or rent a car and drive an hour up. Not trying to diminish your points, because I really like your perspective, just speaking from mine.

The last time I went home, the suburbs actually gave me a melancholy feeling. Having grown up in perpetually-sunny SoCal, the never changing weather actually gave me a sense of stillness and stagnation, as if nothing ever changes (good in some ways, bad in others). The northeast's jarring seasons combined with NYC's ambitious culture, on the other hand, seems to inspire action and progress - life is moving on with or without you. Purely a personal perception, I understand.

Though, on the flip side, when it's time for me to settle down and raise a family, I highly suspect I would want to return to the suburbs for that. Raising a child in NYC seems insane. Though to be fair, NYC does have its shares of suburbs in the outer boroughs.