Making Nikah-Only Marriages More Acceptable, Insha'Allah

As-salamu alaykum - why are ‘nikah only’ marriages so uncommon in many of our circles? I’m 19 and seeing lots of young people in haram relationships has got me thinking. Why do many Muslim communities treat marriage like one big package deal: nikah plus immediate living together plus full financial and social expectations all at once? From an Islamic point of view, nikah by itself makes the relationship halal. A husband and wife can be married and maintain a halal relationship while still living separately for a while if that suits their situation. Culturally though, that option seems nearly invisible or looked down on. I’d really like to see this kind of arrangement normalized more. It would help people who aren’t financially ready, are still studying, or can’t move out yet. It could also prevent zina by allowing couples to make things halal sooner instead of making them wait years because they can’t meet every cultural expectation right away. Sometimes it feels like elders have added so many extra hurdles to marriage that we’re surprised when people struggle, postpone marriage, or slip into haram. A nikah-only setup, with clear boundaries, sincere intentions, and agreed timelines, seems like a sensible middle ground, but it’s rarely encouraged. Would love to hear thoughts, especially from anyone who’s seen a nikah-only arrangement work in real life.