I don't want a back yard. What I want is the noise isolation and the feeling of safety and personal space. I also like having the ability to use that space for personal projects if I want to.

I have seen condos and other urban spaces that are well-built enough to provide the same benefits that I see from a back yard. But they're very expensive.

My basic point is that people sometimes forget what they really want, and instead focus on something that has given them those benefits.