True, and furthermore they are easier to drive and park.

I guess I should say that my issue is mroe about the DIY-ness of the van-life thing.

I've know a lot of folks in schoolies over the years, and while they can look all instagram fabulous, mostly they are never as nice, light-weight, or well-insulated as even the cheaper commercially available alternatives. It might be just a bad perception on my part, and I think it is possible to do... I just don't see it happening for most of the folks I know who.