I doubt I'd have been able to move cities and change careers without renting an apartment. I think there is a role for landlords in society, but I also think a lack of regulations and poor housing/urban planning laws has blurred the lines of that role and pushed the priority into profits over everything.

There are valid reason to want to rent over owning such as short term employment, college/university, or just feeling out a city/area before commiting to a property.