Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

[...] the infrastructural and cultural advantages of urban centers remain. The accompanying “pulse” especially attracts young people and fewer leave the city later than those who have moved in. Many simply like to stay there.

Exactly. Some already assume too much from themselves and their own wishes: "Schools, childcare, and a supermarket in the village? Maybe even a train station that gets you to a bigger city in 1:30 hours? Perfect!" But there are plenty of people who want more.

I lived in Düsseldorf for a long time and grew up in a big city. Almost all of our friends still live in big cities (also with children). They just have a lot of cool things they can do and can reach on foot. They also don’t have to get in the car for every little thing. They just walk or take the subway. We won’t have that anymore soon. And that will annoy me a bit... I actually hate having to start the car for every trip. And we can consider ourselves lucky to have a supermarket, hairdresser, kiosk, and hairdresser within walking distance.

Sure: there are those who build everything with all the bells and whistles in small towns and have everything within walking distance. But those are per se the absolute exception.

And does it really exist? Commuting 200 km one way to work? Even if it’s “only” 2-3 times a week? I find that pretty intense. And I live in NRW, where the 200 km distance includes 198 km of highway :D I don’t even want to imagine if, out of the 200 km, 80 km still have to be driven on country roads and through city traffic.

Sure: there are those who now build everything with all the bells and whistles in small towns and can reach everything on foot. But they are per se the absolute exception.

We currently live in such a small town and we are also moving back to a similar setting, but in our search for a location we rather had the impression that only the smaller towns try to offer appropriate amenities, so I don’t see this as an exception but actually as the more frequently encountered option compared to the "real" big cities.

Well, nobody wants to hang dead over a tree in East Westphalia, right?

But we have a lot of nature ;)

…
I find that pretty intense. And I live in NRW, where out of 200km distance 198km is highway :D I don’t even want to imagine having to drive 80km of country roads and city traffic out of those 200km

I first have to drive 45 minutes each way to get to the highway …

Sure: there are those who now build everything with all the bells and whistles in small towns and can reach everything on foot. But they are per se the absolute exception.

Being truly within walking distance nowadays and given the specific life interests and habits probably applies to no one anymore, and thus certainly not in the big city. Children are often still driven and picked up, as soon as it gets colder or wet the bike stays in the basement, etc., and the car comes back into constant use.
The city dwellers I know do use their car constantly (or stand with it in inner-city traffic jams) because the special shops, doctors, schools, transport of purchases, leisure activities, hairdresser, friends, etc. can never be done on foot, and one does not actually live that centrally, i.e., practically near the pedestrian zone.
I believe it is always worth taking a closer look at what exactly city or country means for the individual and their life. An acquaintance lives south of Munich in the countryside and takes the IC to the city every day for exactly 60 minutes. It would not be possible to do this by car and it is more relaxed. For me, for example, driving on the highways in NRW would be rather off-putting because I mostly experienced near-city roads there to be congested whenever I was there.
The question for each individual is also what the necessary "bells and whistles" are for them and how much importance they attach to it.
I recently moved out of the city, also because I found it awfully loud there, no matter where and when you were out and about.
Otherwise, I think that in Germany cities with around 15,000 inhabitants usually already have very good infrastructure, but ultimately everyone finds their own measure.

Exactly. Here, already quite a few start purely from themselves and their own wishes: "Schools, childcare, and a supermarket in town? Maybe even a train station from which you can reach a bigger city in 1:30 hours? Perfect!" But there are more than enough people who want more.

Of course I would like to have a house with a garden and new-build standard within walking distance of the subway directly in downtown Munich. But I can't afford it :-) And the choice between a nice big house in the middle of nowhere and a 60m2 condominium in a tolerable location in Munich at the same price wasn't that hard for me with a family after all. But prices in big cities certainly wouldn't be so high if many didn't see it the other way around. I'm just saying, partially due to home office, incentives for long commutes are increasing. And with that, the attractiveness of small towns in the middle of nowhere is also rising.

I’m just saying, partial home office increases the incentives for long commutes. And with that, the attractiveness of small towns in the middle of nowhere also increases.

I think so too. Although it remains to be seen whether the home office trend is really sustainable. I think the government needs to promote it much more. What many have already forgotten: the fine dust and CO2 discussion in big cities. The nonsense being done there to MAYBE reduce emissions by 10-20%. I already said back then: anyone who can do 50% home office and emissions in city centers will easily decrease by 20%.