Carrick is reversing an argument that makes a virtue out of necessity.

The necessity is needing a home for ourselves and families. The virtue is that it is a savings vehicle as we pay down the mortgage principle and benefit from asset appreciation. 

Sure, it is not saving for retirement but most of us have little left over for retirement savings after paying the bills. The alternatives are no better. Renting typically does not free up money for retirement savings but does help the landlord pay for his/her retirement.

Probably the best way to deal with this dilemma is to pay off the house as fast as you can and then apply moneys going to mortgage payments to investing. That requires a long term plan. In the long term, however, we are all dead.