Hmm. While this is definitely true, I think you stand to leave more to your children if you own, opposed to renting. If your rent is comparable to mortgage (assumption, I know) you will wind up paying less after the mortgage is over. If you die at 80, and start paying rent at 20, that's 60 years of rent, compared to, say, a 30-year mortgage. That's 30 more years of rent.

I know, I know, someone is going to say "well, what about upkeep and maintenance and killing rats and xyz?" The way I'm seeing this (which, by the by, is originating completely from a 3-beer-deep opinionated loudmouth) is that it's negligible compared to the fact that you are investing your money in something that is of material value.

Bingo.