For some, it makes sense, and they seem to be making the ideal decision. I was fortunate to have a formative commuting experience during my first foray into 121, and it was about as bad a commuting situation as I could imagine, two legs to uncommutable pairings...wife was on board to do whatever we needed to in order to avoid commuting. "OMG you're going to uproot the kids? How awful, they will be so upset!!!" was the chorus from extended family and friends. 🤣 Kids were way more excited to move than we were (probably has something to do with not having to do any of the moving work).
My worthless advice, have the discussion, don't cherry pick the data, look at all of the pros and cons of living in base. I can do things living in base that commuters have a difficult time following:
In base reserve (the biggest benefit, imo)(eta: coincidentally also topping the list of reasons I left the ACMI sector. I spent six nights away from my own bed last month, and blocked > my best month at my last gig 🤘)
Schoolhouse or other HQ staff gigs (if you choose to live near the mothership for your carrier)
I can sit around and cherry pick premium/pickup/trade trips at my leisure, without the added tax of looking at loads/wx/connections of a commute, just suit up and drive. My wife's favorite phrase while sitting reserve: "Honey, I got put on a turn tomorrow"
I bid a line long before I had the seniority to specifically hold commutable lines.
By the same token, if your family is rooted near the extended support network of family/friends/spouse's lucrative job, then that might tilt the equation the other way. My wife's job (home office) was portable in our case.