So regarding your statement here:

Not to discount renters who are definitely hurting, but they do need to consider the new home owners in this too.

So if your property value decreased you'd still be better off than any renters would be.

If you want to talk about how hard it is, don't even mention renters because the comparison makes your situation look rosy.

I'd love to have a concrete asset worth hundreds of thousands to back me up, but instead I have to spend 60% of my paycheck on somebody else's mortgage payments and I don't even get to own anything for all that money I'm spending.