My context is Canada; the problem we have here is that there is a big divide between people who bought their big homes with land 10-20 years ago, and the people in the market right now who can only afford apartments. The issue it twofold; (1) negative comparison against the landowners even though apartment dwellers may have significantly higher incomes / education levels, and (2) political divides; the landowners staunchly oppose the zoning and transit changes that might make life better for apartment dwellers.

Getting used to living in an apartment is a smaller issue in my opinion.