One thing that gets you less far than sarcasm is condescending pithy platitudes.
Edit: Rather than quote meaningless self-help fodder, you could have pointed out that it is difficult to convince people of the benefits of a different approach by labelling them. It is instead better to point out the costs of what we're currently doing wrong, and the benefits of the proposed way.
Actually, I visited one co-housing group in the middle of Atlanta, the people living there just seemed like regular homeowners, not any more moneyed than any other homeowner. Co-housing is something I think you do if you don't have the cash to just build whatever you want on your huge plot of land, but still want to live someplace with amenities. Just share the cost.