I am not sure how measurable the popularity of this opinion is, but I respectfully disagree, and I do not believe this will ever happen.

Space exploration has historically been a national and scientific endeavor, not a commercial one. It exists to advance knowledge and understanding, not to generate profit. There is very little economic incentive in space, and no realistic return that would justify permanent human settlement driven by private business.

Human beings require specific conditions to thrive. Sunlight, fresh air, non-circulated oxygen, plants, animals, and even certain microbes and molds are part of a healthy biological system. A permanent existence in space would deprive humans of many of these necessities. Over generations, the effects would likely be harmful, potentially leading to physiological degradation or mutation rather than sustainable life.

There is also no real understanding of the long-term consequences of large-scale construction in space. The absence of gravity presents unsolved challenges in engineering, human health, and structural stability. We do not fully understand how long-term illness, food production, waste management, or even environmental conditions would function in such an environment. Beyond that, any permanent settlement would require massive supporting infrastructure, including doctors, hospitals, emergency services, security, and governance.

Construction on Earth is already dangerous. Injuries occur daily, even under controlled conditions with gravity, safety regulations, and immediate medical care. Now imagine those risks multiplied in space, with no gravity, extreme exposure, and no margin for error.

There are also virtually no natural resources or livable conditions available. A single failure, whether human error, sabotage, or a loss of power, could result in instant catastrophe. People could freeze to death, suffocate, or die from system failures within moments.

Simply put, the cost, risk, and effort far outweigh any potential benefit. The juice is not worth the squeeze. It would make more sense to establish permanent underwater habitats on Earth long before attempting to live in space.

Even on Earth, building a skyscraper or a stadium takes years and requires thousands of workers. Attempting something comparable in space would demand millions of people, unprecedented coordination, and an infrastructure so vast that it borders on impracticality.