This part is completely false. People outside of NYC proper do not use the MTA subways. Half the people in Queens drive, along with everyone on Staten Island, Long Island, and Jersey/PA/CT. 90% of the girls walking down the street in Manhattan do not live in Manhattan.
This is not true and it is something you realize once you live in Manhattan itself. Every area of Manhattan is its own community and you end up seeing the same people over and over again at the bars in the given area. Sure, you get transplants and people from the outer boroughs coming but the regulars all end up being the locals to that community. Each neighborhood in Manhattan is flooded with 20-something women who go out to certain spots. It might not be true for Time Square or a tourist heavy area but in a LES or UES? Most women actually tend to live in the area or very much nearby.
This is probably your worst take. People living outside of Manhattan are fully aware of why they aren’t in Manhattan. Most it is a choice. Living near NYC means you can also “rent” it for the day whenever you want. People take their girlfriends to broadway shows, concerts, or on boat cruises. That’s not the appeal for a single guy but it’s just flat out wrong to assume everyone wants to be in Manhattan 24/7. I’ve never heard anyone complain that they wish they lived in Manhattan.
If you bring in an LTR then maybe I see where you are coming from but not exactly. Maybe someone does settle into an LTR and then realizes that the pace of life in a Jersey city is better suited for them compared to a Manhattan. In that situation, I'd argue that they are better off moving to an Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, or a city with a slower pace of life in general. These people are paying for the high cost of living and aggressive state taxes all to live an hour away from all of the fun. In that case, why not just move to an Atlanta or a smaller city which is better suited for couples.
This is just your opinion. I’ve banged triple digit girls from all over NYC and I’m pretty far out.
Okay great but the truth is if you lived in Manhattan, you could have banged a lot more than just that and probably better quality too. You could have also done triple digits over the years if you lived in a smaller city with a slower pace of life and saved a lot of money doing it.
My point being, NYC is not worth it unless you live in Manhattan as a single guy. Literally anything else that the outer boroughs offer is barely unique and other states, cities, and parts of the US can offer it for better quality and often at a better price.
Golfing? Go to Florida or somewhere out west, no point in going to Long Island.
Breweries? Go to California, no point in wasting time in NY.
Boat cruises? Go to Florida or somewhere down south.
Family life? Pick a Texas or Florida or any midwestern state, lower cost of living and more bang for your buck.
The outer boroughs and Jersey offer nothing unique to justify paying for life there.