"Given the size of the District and the consequences of living there (even aside from gun issues), why on earth would you not just live in MD or VA?"
Because the commute is a B*tch. "Rush hour" there last a little more than three hours in the AM, then another 3 in the PM, and there is a mini 2 hour one centered on noon. Just one accident on the DC beltway or on a major highway pretty much means you ain't gonna get there on time, no matter how early you leave.
Rain there creates the same traffic problems as a foot of snow in most of the rest of the country. Snow there (or in some cases just the forecast of snow!) creates a traffic panic the likes of which you have to see to believe.
Shortly after I first got there in the late 70's, I remember having the radio wake me up, WTOP was on, and they were announcing all the schools and businesses that were closed because of the "snow emergency". The list just went on and on and on! I got out of bed and went to the window looking to see my first DC area snow storm....
I COULD STILL SEE THE GRASS!