It has been a problem for a long time and won't go away any time soon.
Urbanization is almost irreversible unless/until civilization collapses then population declines turns into fewer cities, economic depression and more self-sufficient communities at a lower standard of living. That is the pattern across continents and millenia.
I would kinda agree. Thirty years ago...guys would occasionally take a 1k mile trip across some section of the US and really see the lay of the land. We would note small towns, gas stations in the middle of nowhere, and enjoy a hand-packed hamburger at some little burger spot. Things are changing and I think we all ought to take a couple of days off and really tour our region. Our images of 1980 are pretty much wiped out, if you asked me.