This is a big issue.
In many ways, Vancouver would be better off as one municipality and not a bunch of small ones that people disassociate with.
This image shows Toronto (not greater Toronto) overlaid on Vancouver and it would include all or Burnaby, New West, Most of Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Moody and Poco.
If all of those people felt that they were still living in "Vancouver" that would change people's perceptions a lot.
This is not to downplay the affordability issues Vancouver faces, but I know so many people who would never consider buying in places like New West or Poco; even though you're a 25 minute train ride from downtown Vancouver.
I've always said Vancouver's downtown is horribly located as well, by being way up in the NW corner.
Imagine it was located somewhere around New West, with transit moving in all directions away from there.
That would cut commute times down considerably and distribute traffic in multiple directions instead of one way.
So many different variables that have contributed to the issues we now face.