I could just as easily say that you are building a narrative wherein people should become dependent on modern material goods (many of which did not exist decades ago and most of which would be considered frivolous luxuries 100 years ago), and therefore always forced to work on someone else's idea.
It might be more clear if you would describe utopia for us. If someone wants to try a zillion ideas without answering to anyone, who should pay them in the meantime? And would that money be enough to live comfortably in one of the most sought-after areas in the world?
What's your point? The author who was sleeping in tight quarters also had access to washing machines at a laundromat, and did not require a servant.
So what fundamental, basic aspect of life are the authors giving up by temporarily lowering their cost of living? Is whatever they are giving up so important that it undermines the freedom that they gain? Does it make it impossible to join the "normal" life later?
It might be more clear if you would describe utopia for us. If someone wants to try a zillion ideas without answering to anyone, who should pay them in the meantime? And would that money be enough to live comfortably in one of the most sought-after areas in the world?