[vineyardmike]

> I can't imagine why anyone would want to pass through a reception and a bunch of corridors just to arrive "home", at a small room with bad furniture, and it isn't even cheap.

You just described living in a major city. Thats my life in my apartment in <Major West Coast City>.

[erezsh]

That might describe SF. Or student dorms. Most cities I've been to aren't like that.

[vineyardmike]

Any apartment building has corridors and halls to get to apartments. Any expensive city has small apartments. Any high-end apartment (or big complex in a city) has a doorman/front desk.