[JVIDEL]

I agree about the limits, but the problem is not urbanistic, in fact afaik the French tried to make a techhub in the nineties by offering great offices for cheap and it didn't work.

What limits other hubs are taxes and legislation: a guy I know in Brasil had tons of stories about taxation over there, and it wasn't pretty. Another guy in Europe said in some countries its nearly impossible to fire an employee.

Then there's funding: in some places there really isn't any, and what little there is comes with a price, like 60% of your startup up front for $20K or less.

Those are the things that really add up, Silicon Valley is not just SF, there are places nearby which are much cheaper. On the other hand you can't escape taxation (unless you like being in jail) or labor laws. And if there are no investors you are screwed too, unless you have rich parents.