I understand your pain, but do not agree with your conclusion having lived in Florida for 10 years and through at least half a dozen hurricanes.

First and foremost, building a traditional home along the ocean or on the Gulf Coast is madness as you say. And I do agree partially with your point that if people won't stop the madness insurance companies should, except the state will likely step in and offer insurance.

There are places in Florida "near", not on the ocean where it is safe to build according to the new building codes homes. My home (10 miles from the ocean) was built to withstand 135+ mph winds, it was built in a community with state-of-the-art drainage systems, and each home was on its own little "island" so that water could run around them into the drainage canals and out to the ocean.

In contrast, "oceanfront properties should either be anchored high rises with no residences located less than 13 feet in the air (the ground floor being reserved for commercial use or parking) or "throwaway" cabins. For decades the oceanfront was lined with these relatively cheap summer cabins or in some cases manufactured homes, which you expected to lose and replace when hurricanes came along. Some would say they were "rustic". Now the ocean fronts get lined with million-dollar homes waiting for the first storm surge to sweep them away.

We have modern air conditioning and so there is no need to live "on the water" to keep cool. You want that million-dollar home, don't build on the water. You want a nice "summer shack" on the water away from your real home or better yet a 10th floor condo built to withstand a nuclear blast, then go for it.

So, I agree with you and disagree with you. You adapt to mother nature; you don't try to beat her. You may win a few battles, but she will win the war... eventually...

As a last point, there is something to be said with the ever-increasing size of homes in the face of shrinking families. It might be time to rethink societal housing where personal space is far smaller and common space is available for activities outside of normal home activities.