I'm southern by birth, living in Yorkshire by choice. I would hate to live somewhere where I couldn't see hills (admittedly in the distance). But that's me.
I ride an off-road bike about once a week. I'm not looking for 'hard' stuff, I think it's the best way to get out in beautiful scenery, cover a lot of ground, and have fun. I also have a (very) full time job and a child.
Probably have more in common with walkers than 20-something hardcore downhill mountain bikers.
It takes all sorts. People live all over the place, for their own reasons. Some of them enjoy riding off-road (or even on mountains given the chance). Why do people (read boys) on this forum get so worked up about it?