If 1 out 2 pilots do it, then can it be that bad? I don’t think anybody is arguing that all things being equal living in base is better then not living in base. But life gets complicated and it obviously works for a lot of people or they wouldn’t do.
Having lived in base, commuted and worked a real 9 to 5 job. I’ll commute to a decent airline job over a 9 to 5 gig any day of the week and twice on Sunday.