to some degree you're right, commutes are a good way to trade time for rent money. many people don't have that time luxury, sadly, especially if dealing with a 9-5 job, caltrain irregularities and school/daycare schedules. many people don't have an extra 3+ hours to spare each day and necessarily trade that for a rent increase or proximity to a daycare or school. as a current resident of epa, i can say that the rents are becoming comparable with regular palo alto, especially if you're not living alone, which is really when these budget issues become much more complex.