I think also boomers have been colored a bit by having lived (and worked) through some very high inflationary periods.
It was buy big now you will be able to afford it later. (when you have been living through 10-14% wage inflation). — that counts promotions etc…. as well.
Not so much in later generations I think but X should have seen the tail end of that.

the 60’s had some high inflation also the weird low-inflation period starting mid 90’s I think (well weird from a boomers Perspective).

What X views as cheap homes was just the work of inflation (well for the most part).