Bad Business

LA Times: how a 200K ADU dream turned into 600K reality. 

Believe me, I can relate, but I think this article is a bit of a horror story. 

Firstly, the end result is a beautiful, built ADU that they rent out to cover the cost. You read that correctly. You build a beautiful thing, but someone else gets to enjoy it. Insane! Second, you just bought yourself a roommate. Now you've got people living in your backyard. Doubly insane! Thirdly, you're 100% thinking all the time: god, I hope they don't fuck up my nice place. Triply insane!

Wouldn't they have been better off remodeling (down to studs if necessary) the old house and making it beautiful to live in - and spending considerably less than 600?