There's really nothing like a stereotypical "the burbs" on the peninsula -- or anywhere in the Bay area for that matter. Concepts like "the burbs" are perpetuated by the perception of a need to commute via personally-owned vehicle or transport, as there are no other options -- and that just doesn't happen here. It's perfectly reasonable and viable to live without a vehicle in this place. Besides, Caltrain is fun.

If you think about it, the only people that benefit from people en masse becoming infatuated with a certain neighborhood (or likewise shunning certain neighborhoods) are Realtors, who make $ based on turnover of property in certain areas, and Realtors are all pure Evil. I actually gave up driving my car after I moved down here; only 5 months thus far, and I estimate I've saved a lot -- far more than I would have spent otherwise -- in transportation costs, time, and even energy.

I guess I just don't understand your point. I've never met a genuinely creative person who ever gets bored. I guess I don't really think of "getting bored" being resultant from a function of place.