The other places you mention are little college towns without any industry, could be appropriate for people in their early 20s who have their own job to bring. Spokane and Pullman are really cheap, but they're in the middle of nowhere. Reno is probably the best of the bunch, it's nice and has more of an economy, plus it's a relatively short drive back to civilization and San Francisco.
Some parts of Phoenix are really nice, as is Tucson, affordable, great weather, etc but the always-in-your-face abrasive politics of AZ can be off putting.
It's a bit further out, but I think the South will be major growth areas for tech. Highly affordable, friendly people, good weather for most of the year, great cities and culture, etc.
Max temps for the 10 day forecast: 102, 100, 101, 103, 103, 98 (cool!), 101, 105, 107, 109 (!!!).
You better like being indoors all the time.
Scottsdale or Tempe may be a different story, but then you're driving anyway. Or you do live within walking distance, but then you're no longer paying Phoenix rents.
Also, when you live in Phoenix, your body changes and you truly do acclimate to the heat. Anything under 65 feels like below freezing after a few years of living anywhere that is warm year round.
I agree that we have wacky politicians, but so does California! Our mayor Greg Stanton is pretty cool. He wants to encourage more investment in high tech industry.
Compared to what? San Francisco?
We also have great hiking, some of the best sunsets to be had, low cost of living.
Way better climate, IMO, than west of the Cascades.
WSU is an intellectual asset, a major campus, but it is located a 90-minute freeway drive away in the smaller town of Pullman, which don't get much respect but isn't so bad either.
Edit: Under the heading of intellectual asset, I completely forgot Gonzaga U, which puts some brain-power right in Spokane.
Sincerely Yours, Idaho