I don't have kids but one benefit I get from owning a house is I can do pretty much what I want to it without having to get permission for it from a landlord and it affords more space for entertaining friends and allowing me to build things so I think that statement is a bit short-sighted.

You are right though about the mindless promotion and the dubious investment potential. Unless you specialize in real estate investment, houses are primarily a place to live and you have to determine the value that you would get out of it from that standpoint.