Who cares what's normal or acceptable, short of illegal?
Why not be crazy in your youth? It's your youth! Spend it however you want. Spend it in ways that you look back and don't regret having taken a safe path.
I don't think anyone is lying about anything. Everyone is extremely quick to point out that living in a closet isn't normal.
But it's awesome. They actually had the courage to do that. And that is wonderful, and worth celebrating.
They didn't give a damn what was normal and did whatever was pragmatic. I'm glad there are places like that in the world.
I added a bit to the end of my comment. It sounds like you're worried that people are lying to others, or are somehow acting in ways that are malicious. But all that's happening here is cheering for founders.
From personal experience its very possible to believe you are obliged to sacrifice your own well being, and you are obliged to be passionate about something. This is my motivation here.
If the pressures are aligned too strongly in the other direction, and someone is feeling squeezed, they should focus on themselves and act accordingly. As you say, it's easy to forget that.
Can we see eye to eye that my stance is the same thing, but from the opposite direction? It's very possible to believe you're obliged to do the safe thing, to worry about whether you're supporting yourself or living up to your parents' expectations, and to think that you should suppress your dreams to appease others.
It's the path that society pushes you into by default, which is why it's worth being keenly aware of it and triple checking that you're ok with choosing it. Because you only get to make that choice once or at most a few times, often when you don't know any better.
But the key word is informed. Suggesting that it is normal or even broadly considered acceptable to live in a closet is a lie.
Encourage people however you like but if you need to lie to them then I'm absolutely not ok with it.