I "choose" to commute though I am based in a city that I wouldn't mind living in (SLC). I can't sell my house for what I owe on it, so I "choose" to keep making my payments instead of "choosing" foreclosure. Of course, if I did "choose" to loose my house then I could move to my base and not commute - but I'm junior and with the upcoming Airbus for MD swap I would probably have to move again to not be a commuter. Some "choice" eh?

By the way, I'm not bitter - I like where I work and I know that the current situation isn't permanent. But to say that commuters are commuters simply by choice doesn't tell the whole story in today's world.