Yes people can save on a lot of things. And many have too much stuff. But one thing you don't neglect is safety. You don't want your kids to be brought up in a neighborhood with crack houses or where there is violence and such. That's not the same as sacrificing a new BMW for a used Chevy. Most people will make the automotive sacrifice but putting your life into danger and bringing your child up in a horrible environment is different. I'll bet you are from a rural community and not in a major city or even in the suburbs of a major city. It's different in the battle zone.
I am now in a rural community but we did live in a larger city until just before our fourth child was born, and I remember the horrible feeling seeing the rival gangs walking back and forth in front of our house taunting each other. My point was and is that life is made up of decisions that we make and yes safety is important but none of us knows our future...you are more likely to be killed by a drunk driver in most of the country then by a gun “in the battle zone”.
Based on my experience in both the city and now in the rural environment and the people in each...they both normally list the same reasons for not having children, and the couple you have mentioned is the first one I have heard mention safety, they tend to be financial reasons. I respect the couple that you mentioned because they do seam to be concerned for the well being of the child. I would hope that they can find some way to find a “safe” place so that they would feel comfortable having a child.