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And yet Europeans roared across the Atlantic in the millions when it took >1 month to sail. Europeans colonized Australia and New Zealand, even further away (~250 days), and only about half the total number of people on board the First Fleet were convicts, the rest went along because it was their job or their choice.

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This doesn't refute the concept that now people may choose to live somewhere in part due to its transportation options.

I mean.... Sure.

I hate NYC and yet I recognise that it's the best location for fast travel to Europe... I travel back home about 2 times per year, though.

But implying that travel accessibility is the primary reason is absurd. If I had a good job offer from a company in LA - I would still take it. Even though my travel time to my mother would double(11 to 22 hours)

None of those were casual journeys the way a flight home for Christmas is. For colonists, it was generally the one long-distance trip they would make in their entire lives. In the glory days of the great trans-Atlantic liners, the only people who used them regularly were the very rich.

Casual journeys are still an expensive thing to do. Do you think a median family in US can afford a short trip to Miami, planned even a month in advance?

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