[davidw]

If it were just developers, there wouldn't be the political constituency for it. Also, developers make money whatever kind of market-rate construction they're doing, in a decent market.

If you're interested in the subject, some good takes on it are the books I list here (Zoned in the USA and Zoning Rules!):

https://bendyimby.com/2017/06/12/yimby-reading/

Or, if you want to get a very real sense, the next time some apartments get proposed in your town, go to the public hearings and listen to the neighbors rant, rave, froth at the mouth and otherwise raise a hue and cry that life as they know it will not go on if the poor peop...errr, I mean apartments get built anywhere near them.