Sort of like how some folks say 'everyone should meditate.' Maybe that worked for them and the issues they had, and that is brilliant, but lots of people don't have that problem or that response doesn't fit them.
I live in a rural area and don't get much noise at all other than wind and animal noises when I'm home alone. It is comfortable precisely because it isn't artificial. Going to a silent retreat means being around people who are intentionally suppressing their desire to speak and being expected to fit in. It is an intentional change in behavior, which starts out uncomfortable.
I think some of these people were coming from noisy workplaces and homes. But I live on my own and my area is reasonably quiet (not completely peaceful, there is a lot of low level sound.) I don't have children running around. But it also reminded me of being punished as a child. Because if they couldn't catch someone at school we had to go around in silence as a punishment.
I would prefer the noises of nature. Which is precisely what I did. I headed to the local nature reserve near the retreat centre. Not noisy but somehow less prisonlike.
(I think a lot of folk should meditate, but I do know people who can't. I find it hard to meditate at home for reasons too long to go into.)
Even often so, what might be a problem for some, will be a desirable solution for others. Cue the utilitarians...