Band-Aid or not, it's solid and well thought through. Don't be so quick to dismiss something because it doesn't solve all the world's problem immediately.
It’s not all that different from saying allow six to a room or something. Sure, it increases “density” but it’s not a solution.
One of their examples is garages in the mission (SF). Those things are low ceiling, dingy, etc. Students might be okay. Not grown adults. Like I said, it’d become a new normal, an accepted solution. But it’s not a solution. It just postpones things and makes sub-par acceptable.
If I had the choice of a garage in SF or a 2h commute to my barrista job for a something more in my price range it would be a no brainer. You're dismissing a good idea because it doesn't help you personally... I expert more from HN commenters than "no because this doesn't benefit me or conform to my world view".
Small, dingy, cheaply done so the owner can earn as much money as possible renting it out. Garages are designed mainly as a storage room or just big enough to squeeze an average sized car in, newer builds you would struggle fitting a car in. Fitting a bathroom, bed, kitchen in? Not a nice place to live.