"Here in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland we have allowed monster houses and on small tracts of land."

Hello?

Vancouver USED TO HAVE small houses that were beautifully proportioned for 33 and 45 foot lots.

Indeed, that was most of Kerrisdale up until about 30 years ago, most of the houses in the 1,000 to 2,000 square foot range.

And so there was actually a time when Vancouver was actually VERY INTERESTED in having small houses on small lots.

I disagree with your claim that Vancouver (city proper) versus its suburbs was somehow a "sort of class system".

No, there were richer and poorer bits of Vancouver (Kerrisdale and Shaugnessey versus Renfrew and Marpole) just as there were richer and poorer suburbs (British Properties and Ocean Park versus Whalley and New Westminster).

Lots of rich people lived in both places, city and suburbs, and lots of blue collar workers lived in both places, city and suburbs.

Summary: You underestimate the mess arising in just the past 30 years.