>Outside of Charlotte would not be too bad, but the metro area is a disaster to live and drive in.

I live in Charlotte, and its not bad for me. I have a 15 to 20 minute commute depending on conditions, with several choices of routes, and live in the same zip code I was raised in. If you choose where you live wisely, the traffic is easily bearable.

Living up at Lake Norman, and working in Charlotte, for example, would be a different story.