"by comparison most of us at that age have well and truly paid off the mortgage years ago, have substantial assets"
And that is the exact point most 'bears' on this forum are trying to get across. In 'your day' a single wage earner could support a family and stay at home mum and pay off the mortgage because houses were relatively cheap.
I doubt anyone of you would be able reproduce your 'substantial assets' if you were straight out of school today.
