Thoughts on mortgages (if one can afford them, of course)?

Depends, but yes, there is a case for it. At least arguably, the same applies to student loans in places where you are basically forced to take them to get educated (I am fortunate to live in a saner place - I didn’t pay anything for my education, and was, in fact, paid (a tiny amount) to study).
Nevertheless, loans are generally very bad for working-class people, and should be avoided when possible and when the alternatives are not even more costly.

Seems to me like the interest is a smaller price to pay than rent if you don’t intend to move for a while

In this case, you are lowering your expenditures elsewhere, so, in that case you do benefit.