"Hot and populated by people not high-end enough to buy a home in a coastal area."
The median price for single family homes in RB is just about the highest in San Diego County. It is higher than any coastal area in San Diego County other than La Jolla, Coronado and Del Mar. Its higher than PB, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, or Encinitas.
Just had to say it.
None of that changes my opinion. Most of the areas you mentioned have older and dumpy areas that drag down the median home price.
You are right! RB is populated by stodgy, tightly-wrapped, snotty retired people. On the west side is a "Commercial Park", with a lot of high tech companies. The workers commute from as far away as Riverside. The workers can not afford to live there.