Why does everyone else need to live in a desirable metro area? That sounds infeasible with so few of them. If there was more desirable metro areas, the prices of those few wouldn't be so high.
> Why does everyone else need to live in a desirable metro area
Because if nothing else (and there is a lot of else) the tech/lawyer/finance folks want to have restaurants, shops, cinemas, street cleaners, utilities etc etc etc etc
Jobs, mostly. Along with increased access to all the things people like, like food, other people, activities, etc.