I don't live in NorCal, or even California for that matter, but I do have this question for those who would say that it's "not worth it" to live there:

If these areas that are so expensive are not "worth it" to live there, then why is there so much demand that is driving the housing market so high? Obviously lots of people are willing to pay to live there, creating demand and scarcity.

Always struck me that it's more expensive to live "somewhere" than it is to live "nowhere."