I see myself as rational and rather doom scenario than dream scenario thinker but my enthusiasm can motivate me to still find a good deal.

As difficult as it may be, you have to stay rational about this and don't let your emotions make you say things that you'll later regret.

The below is pure speculation; I don't work in "loss mitigation" or have any insider scoop on it.With interest rates as low as they have been since 2012 or so, and given where appreciation has been, and the fact that when/if a home sells the title company will require that the lender (plus back interest) be paid off, it's possible that the 'rational' thing to do is let the interest accrue on the assumption/hope that there will still be equity in it at that point when someone dies/divorces/etc and sells. 

If you have numbers, reason and ration behind your offer the only thing the seller can do is accept, counter, or decline.

The most expensive word in the dictionary is "rationalization".

So if while your in college along the way you pracrice the principals I was talking about above (fiscally responsible, reasonable rational decisions) then when it comes time to actually starting to invest you have good decision making skills

Fear, for the most part, is provoked by emotions, not rational thinking.

Sadly You had a an easy out but you complicated and prolonged the problem by being emotional instead of rational .

I've seen so many of my friends start their corporate jobs making huge incomes, living in expensive apartments, spending all their money on avocado toast, hating their lives, and not actually saving much money year on year, which I've just never been able to rationalize.

I don’t care how you want to try and justify or rationalize it, it is what it is.