This, (to pay MR or not to pay MR) like so many arguments, will never be settled.
Folks that are OK with it will justify it in their minds. Folks that don’t, won’t or can’t pay it will justify their reasons as well.
I think it just comes down to personal preference. For my family, it’s worth it. I enjoy the “new” neighborhood, the Poway school district, and all the other perks that come along with living in a new development. Others may not, and find comfort in the offerings of a more established neighborhood in Poway or the surrounding areas.
I wonder how many of those who have an issue with paying MR and justify their argument by calculating how much they will have in a 30 year period of investing, are actually investing the 5k per year that would have otherwise gone to pay MR? I’m sure there are many that do (and also sure those people will be quick to tell me how well their investments are doing) but I would suspect a greater majority of people spend that 5k they save by not paying MR on other things and will never see a penny of the money claimed to be generated from investing cash.
