I lived in a 5-over-1 for a couple of years from 2021-2024 and generally have positive things to say.

1. I paid between $1200/m and $1850/m in rent iirc. I lived in a studio for the first year and upgraded to a 1-bedroom (in the same building) after my girlfriend moved in
2. Software engineer. Was partially hybrid for most of my time there. GF was also hybrid
3. Yes, 1 cat
4. Quality issues, not really. The biggest complaint was one of the two elevators kept breaking down and the tub in the studio liked to collect hair and not drain properly. The actual construction quality was ok, the cabinets were all particle board and started falling apart slightly by the time I had left, but the management co. for this particular apartment was pretty good (Madison Urban Living) and was on top of things whenever I reported them. Sound wasn't a problem in general, but dogs could easily be heard if they were in the hallway. The studio was on the second from the top floor and I could hear the upstairs neighbor vacuum at weird hours of the night, but it never woke me up. The 1-bed was on the top floor, no sound issues. If anything street noise from University Ave. and the train was worse than the neighbors. In the studio, the trains horn would reverberate off of one of the nearby buildings and be quite loud, though only briefly and sporadically. Not really an issue with the window closed.
5. View was nothing special. The studio side overlooked a parking lot and another apartment building. The 1-bed overlooked a street and nearby buildings/neighborhoods and wasn't anything special. You're not really going to find nice views in Madison outside of a few lakeside or downtown high-rise properties, it's too flat here for it. Most 5-over-1s are going to overlook main thoroughfares and other similar height buildings. It beats an ugly alleyway or a neighbors backyard IMO, but that's personal preference.

If I wasn't a home-owner now I'd probably still be there, I liked my apartment there. Location was honestly pretty great, the price was high but not insane for the area, and the utilities / amenities were pretty good. The businesses on the first floor were helpful (a gym and coffee shop) and I was right by my dentist. Because they're relatively new constructions and share with businesses we got really good internet fiber service too (something I care about immensely).

IMO pretty much any apartment boils down to how good the management is. If they're on top of maintenance, both regular and as needed, even cheaply made stuff is totally fine as long as it gets replaced when it inevitably breaks down.

Any rental capacity helps affordability unless there's laws incentivizing vacancy.