If it was purely just rates it would be an easy equation mark.

$15,000That's funny (ironic funny, not haha funny) -- my BEST investment from a pure ROI standpoint was books-a-million.

Oh, and drinking $60K per year in beer?

I include management costs so as to be able to compare it as a pure investment rather than an investment + a part time job.

Certainly it's a recipe to achieve long-term financial comfort and to ensure that your nest egg continues to grow, but saving isn't going to help you generate shorter-term financial freedom or wealth.If I have a choice between giving up drinking Starbucks coffee everyday (okay, I don't really like Starbucks, but let's go with it as an example) and figuring out a way I can earn an extra $1000 per year to cover my Starbucks purchases, I'll go for the latter.The reason being, I'd never waste time striving for an extra $1000 per year -- instead, I'll strive for an extra $50,000 or $100,000 per year.

I know many are chasing cash flow, perhaps a regular business is what pure cash flow plays should look like ie Subways etc...I have to wonder how valuable a loss at exit investment is really worth?

I would think about it more like this: these people want to be purely passive investors.

Every knowledgeable CPA I've discussed this with has said you can't split up depreciation in that way for purely tax-related reasons.

to use an auto analogy. or they drink the wholesaling cool aid  again a very tough thing to do for those starting out.there are many many ways to make money in real estateand some ways are more suited to certain personalities and or financial strengths/weakness's. 

Purely looking for buy and hold traditional investments