They keep on giving you enough gratification to make you keep on paying them money. 

I know there are a ton of variables, but could it be possible that the obsession for cash flow is instant gratification and will actually profit less than a high appreciation property in the long run? 

These people usually quote a portion of the US Department of Justice study (linked below) saying "Sex offenders are 4 times more likely to be rearrested for a sexual crime than non-sexual offenders," but they stop there, taking it out of context.

@Bobby Paquette statistically, your chances of success will depend on the Class of property.Class A - fairly easy to manage remotely as tenants are pretty much self-sufficient.Class B - a bit harder, you'll need better systems and it usually requires more of your time.Class C - difficult as tenants don't want to lift a finger, have a million excuses for everything, yet demand instant gratification. 

Now that my husband and I have children, that is not practical for us to do. 2) delay instant gratification.

Being consistent and implementing a sound plan is what drives success long term.You can get lucky from time to time but running a full time business performing on all cylinders effectively and efficiently takes planning, thought, and dedication.Do not look for instant gratification but stick to a plan if the numbers show it is working and grow at a controlled risk rate where odds of success are high but failure is lower.I think when wholesaling included these other strategies (assignment, double close) then it was easy for most to start up with little to no money.

Am I wrong in not wanting to feed the instant gratification crowd?

However, if I model their spending/lifestyle pattern, it's unlikely that I'll reach my goal of retiring by 35.Though this 'generational lethargy' is a real thing to a degree, there are still plenty of us willing to put in the work and sacrifice immediate gratification to achieve our version of the American Dream, whatever that may look like for each of us.

The instant gratification of living in the “cool” and “modern” apartment takes priority over making the fiscally sound decision to invest in real estate and begin building a passive income stream.The combination of wanting the best and limited mobility makes real estate investing an unrealistic and impossible option for many millennials.

Each day is filled with gratification as the dog repeats the cycle of anticipation for the next car and then accomplishment as he barks and chases the car away.