I would also add that things are just well, easier in the States, at least compared to Germany / Switzerland. The amount of paperwork alone makes it a non-starter for most.
For comparison, you can set up a business in the UK with a couple of clicks. Beyond that it's a matter of filing a tax return once a year and payroll returns monthly - or annually if you qualify for an exception.
But when it comes to setting up a company France is nightmarish compared to the UK, which has one of the simplest, quickest, and cheapest systems around.
Basically, landlords are reluctant to rent people who may not be able to pay. And it takes years to evict. The more likely you aren’t in that group the less paperwork they’ll need.
Yes it would be better without the bureaucracy but it doesn't mean it is unsurmountable.
Sure, today it's easier to open a company in the country of your choice, but there might be cases where you want or need to open it in a specific country.
(Also, life happens. I doubt the work of any startup started only after the paperwork was 100%)
As a landlord in France, I can assure you that renters have extreme protections here. They can avoid paying rent for months on end without being evicted. That's why we have to ask for so many documents, to try to reduce as much as possible the risk for us.
Furthermore, the documents a landlord can ask a potential renter is limited by law, so there shouldn't be any abuse with that.
Here in Belgium there's the "starters-BVBA" which is the equivalent of the 1 euro GmbH. Yes, there's paperwork and some investment involved, but IMHO it's a myth that starting a company in Europe is a huge hassle.
Which isn't a real option; VOFs and CVs do not have the financial and legal separation of you and the company that a BV has.
I did it before with a Dutch partner, we just started a VOF together. Our plan was to turn it into a BV once revenue reached a certain point (it never did, so we didn't... it was a side hustle).