[Jedd]

It's smaller, for sure. The population of the whole of Tasmania is 500k, with Hobart just under half of that. Compare the 4m in Melbourne alone (6m through the state of Victoria). NSW has similarly dense population around its capital.

At some deep level, the less centralised approach appeals to me.

I've worked in Melbourne for weeks at a time, but never really lived there. (I've lived in Sydney most of my life, and did 5 years in London.)

Everyone has their own list of things they want around them - that's why I included my rationale. If given the choice to live anywhere the idea of choosing to live in a city would be anathema. But I'm probably in the minority there.