I can agree with this take completely. For the record, while I don't think I will ever move back to Austin (for the 3rd time), for complex personal reasons, I lived the bulk of my adult life there, and loved it for the most part.
I note that, as while I will likely never live there again, a part of me truly hopes and want to see the city I loved the most grow into adulthood. Past the hippyville, turned college and capital town, silicone Prarie, movie mecca pt2, tech companies destination, and tourist destination to a full on urban living metroplex. Including, usable reasonably priced mass transit options, life accommodating commercial business and long-term tenant owned condo complexes.
That's why I visit this thread. For, likely silly, but never the less existing hope that things move the right way. I'll always love the time I spent in Austin. I hope 30-40 years from now there are people my age, that have been there that long, can say the same.