> A bunch of fun but barely-profitable things can exist here, that could never exist in a city, simply because of how hostile dense urban economics is to human beings.

The same kinds of things can exist in dense urban environments when they're otherwise terrible places to live, like NYC up-thru the '90s.

I would say or write that they're 'aggressive', not hostile. There's lots of reasons why the (economics of the) same areas are perceived to be incredibly welcoming. Density itself is (or can be) amazing, e.g. more (potential) customers, many more competing employers.