Your second paragraph highlights a weakness in the article because you're not the first person to make that point. When I was talking about the outperformers, I was gauging their success in terms of how it helps the society. I guess I was unclear on that point.

The benefit to the individual is basically just self-acceptance and autonomy. That's the only metric by which it's "better for you" (as the title says).

But yes, definitely a trade off. Assuming I someday have them, I think I'd like to raise my kids in the U.S., but I woudn't mind us all living in Japan as adults.