Specifically, can you achieve acceptable feel & noise characteristics with a thin (ex., 7-8 mm) laminate; if so, what quality underlayment is required?

A lot of investors interviewed on the Bigger Pockets podcast talk about achieving the 2% rule in different parts of the country, one even mentioned achieving the 3% rule.  

Sure, there will be a lot of apartments, but there is so many other housing styles that will attract people.

Here is a stand alone I did in my CA ranch style $4M value estate: The old version was fully enclosed and my designer demanded to go this route, note the separate and large shower with bench seating, rain heads and wall jets.Here is a rendering of my Beverly Hills master bath I am doing right now.

This is hard to achieve over 5 years because of loans, pre-pays etc, however if properly planned for I think you can start achieving it over 10-15 years (paying off assets & leveraging others).  

I like your writing style.

Quote from this Bloomberg article below:"As happens so often with accomplished people, they begin to believe their achievements in one field can carry over to another.

Or rather, if you achieve your priority, you automatically "win", even if she thinks she did.

Did you ever end up achieving your goal?

You can then take the next step to Achieving your goals.