Meh.

Some commutes are radically different than others. And then there is the psychology factor.

Having done both extensively, commuting in many cases, with the right mindset, isn't bad at all. Some "locals" have it way, way worse. Many of the so called "locals" in NYC for example with their 3+ hour drives in traffic getting up at 2AM (after an obvious 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep...) digging and chipping their cars out of employee lot blizzard ice storms whilst bragging about "sleeping in my own bed" while the commuter in many cases is home before they are, etc.

I wouldn't live in NYC/LA regardless, and the nature of the job really doesn't make any domicile safe, save for ATL for DL as long as DL exists. But even then unless you like the flat hot speed trap stepford wives south side experience or want to be a skyscraper urbanite (ew) or want to overspend 5-10X for trendy neighborhoods (VA Highlands, Morningside, maybe Vinings, etc) then it rapidly gets to be diminishing returns. Some people for example just love what the outter parts of CHA/AVL/GSP lake area etc have to offer and the short easy and driveable commute is way better than what many "locals" deal with all things considered.

Then there is the reality of family. Its in our cultural zeitgeist/DNA to think we're the alphas of the family and the military makes people move every 5 minutes so suck it up right? But the reality is that not everyone can move, and many who can don't want to because doing so would create more hardship than it solves in some cases. Some spousal and family considerations like someone else's work, school, elder care, extended family support structure, etc make commuting much, much easier than living in base overall.

The psychology factor is usually more of a factor though, and some folks just aren't wired for it. Miss a single flight and it ruins their month with stress, while others price that in and roll with it. I know someone who came from a regional who commuted for a decade no problem. Got to DL and commuted, with a much better schedule...on the same city pair!...and suddenly had the ability to book the jumpseat he didn't have before. Well the psychology of occasionally losing out when someone else booked it (even when there were 80 seats in back open) blew his mind hole so bad and caused him so much exreme anxiety of losing out of a 12:00:01 booking to someone's sposebot that he had to move to base housing even though no one in the family wanted to.

Then you have those making a quarter to half million a year but who stress about a $250 or less a month crashpad or 50-100 a night rooms. They'll iron man it on the quiet room floor before they'll spend a pittance for single occupancy lodging. Others "price in" that not only financially but more importantly mentally, just roll with it and enjoy life living wherever they want with a great QOL and income. If you can't do that, then you need to move to base. If you can, you get to live wherever you want and wherever is best for your family.