> It's typical of people from both the East Coast and West Coast to think their experiences are representative of the whole country...

I think you have good intentions, but this comes across as pretty insensitive. Rayiner isn't saying every corner of the USA is sprawling suburbia; only that the huge NoVA sprawl outside of D.C. contributes against the average sprawling suburbia from being considered "open and alive". It's a debatable point without labeling huge groups of people.

I did have a second paragraph, short as it was, noting how silly it is to paint with such a broad brush.

Whatever makes the difference (zoning, local culture and traditions, socioeconomic status, ...), there are good and bad suburban areas; they aren't all lifeless, even if they do seem to stretch on forever in places.

Edit to add: suburban areas aren't meant to be experienced from a distance, viewing from the freeway. Looking from a distance at sprawling neighborhoods won't give one a good impression of what it's like to live in one of those neighborhoods.