Not sure we would be having this discussion 20 years ago.
Well, I would be - but many probably not. Most people only think once they are in pain, rather than thinking so they don't end up in pain.
I think it's kinda normal to want to own real estate (yes, also as a product of our society), just like it should be considered normal to pay rent to somebody because you don't want or can't afford to buy a property
It is normal, in the economy we have created. But the economy is designed for wealth generation, until it consumes itself.