You’re missing the main point. All the ‘old salty dogs’ aren’t telling him to not do it because it’s a pain or expensive just because….. they are telling him that because the young buck specifically asked about doing it with making money on a flip in mind. Not possible from his starting point.
If no flip was part of the equation and he wanted to do it for the dream and love of long term ownership all these ‘old salty dogs’ would likely be encouraging him and helping along his way