"White flight" was only a response to your assertion about human psychology. My point is that I think more people find urban life desirable and enjoyable than you give credit for. I don't care much for NYC, but it seems like every time I go to Europe there's those big ugly buildings on the wall. A restauranteur in Vienna once took us back to show us his memorabilia room with twin towers poster and all.

I think "make urban life better" has much higher potential than "convince people they don't want to live in big cities." I see the root causes as social and political more than technical. There are certainly advantages and efficiencies to be had with a dense population.

Unaffordablity due to wealth inequality and concentration is the major social dilemma of our time and I can't really connect it to people pushing for more bike lanes and park spaces.