There are so many things to disagree with here that it's hard to know where to start.

I guess I'll start with the thing I agree with - owning isn't for everyone at all times. Some people need or want the flexibility that comes with renting and being able to pick up and move in a year. Others simply can't afford the down payment and other closing costs. Etc.

However, giving an anecdotal example of one person is silly (as it would be even if the example was pro owning).

Instead, think about it from a more global perspective. Landlords are not renting out properties out of the goodness of their hearts. It's a business that needs to provide them with positive cash flow.

That means that on average, rent for a house will need to be high enough to cover the owner's mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, pmi (if any), etc. plus a little extra as margin of profit.

So the only way this ends up with a lower rent than what you'd pay to own is if the landlord has a much lower mortgage rate than what you can get in the current market, and that landlord isn't trying to maximize their profit.