I hear what you're saying - In this case rents from each unit cover half of the mortgage/tax/insurance each, so I wont be living any cheaper.

Tenants - and it should be clear this is a small percentage, as most renters are still paying their rent - that aren't paying their rent may be celebrating now but mark my words, all renters are going to suffer long-term from this action.

If your town says you need 15 feet between the lot line and the side of the house but the houses are only 20 feet apart, you wont be able to split it.

you don't need it. 1st you wont learn anything, only some regulations and ethics ... other than that ... not really necessary .. 

Yikes....regardless "iF" the rest of the economy begins to bounce back. if they say tenants can pay [missed rent] back in two or three years...That’s capital most just wont have after losing a job.Its a sad situation, owners are surfacing to get out of this mess!

Why is it preferable to have millions sleeping on the streets, paycheck to paycheck, getting evicted when they get sick and have financial difficulty, going into crippling debt over hospital bills, and suffering like people are?

Sure it suffered due to COVID, but you want to buy when there is distress.

It is unreal how often this works and if you stay to once or twice a week doing it you wont get burned out.

Short of asking them to verify the square footage for the comps, which they likely wont do, is there any other course of action I can take?

I thought about the turn key but like you said I will be paying more for it and the equity wont be as good, however it will be complete and fully managed.