Your entire post is excellent, well said. I like to see kids stand on their own, separate from their parents. However, I like to see them respect and love their families. In the old days (and currently in other countries), it was expected that children would care for their elders as they grew feeble. Entire families of several generations would live together. My point? Regardless of how one lives, it's about family.
I was discussing this the other day with some friends. I’m 60, but multi-generational housing was the norm in rough times or not, in the past.
My folks lived with my grandmother when they were first married, after a year or two, went out on their own, and then the time came when my grandmother came to live with us. My mom was only 25 at that time and my grandma lived with us till she passed away. After that, a single great aunt lived with us because she had nowhere else to go.
My MIL moved in with us after my FIL passed away, and we are more than prepared to have my dad come live with us, if he wishes, now that my mom has passed (right now he prefers living on his own...but he’s close and we all look after him.)
I know a family who is building a very large, multi level, house to accommodate, a very elderly grandma, married couple nearing retirement, but still with one teenager at home, and a separate floor for one of the daughters, her spouse, and their children. It is the perfect situation for them.
Our son finished his education at 21, moved out and into a rental about that time, married his long time sweetheart at 22, and bought his home at 25. So he’s ahead of where we were at his age.
An interesting perspective if a child goes straight from living at home and into marriage, unless they had their share of chores at home, they don’t appreciate what their spouse is doing for them. In other words, if they live on their own for awhile, (applies especially to guys), and have had to do their own laundry, their own cooking, their own cleaning, then when they get married, they appreciate, not take for granted, the things their wife now does for them around the house.
I do have sympathy for a lot of these kids who are having to live at home because of the jobs situation. I can almost guarantee you that no 25 year old guy wants to be living with his parents...but if there is no money to move out on your own (which requires a “chunk of change” up front for deposits, first/last, etc.) they have no choice.