I don't care about the "rednecky" aspect of the Austin hinterlands, cos I tend to be a cultural chameleon and get along with folks wherever I am. But I do worry about the heat, and even up in the Hill Country it just gets too darned hot for me to want to spend summers in that part of the world.
I could see spending winters, falls and springs there though - easily. For me the Hill Country is the major draw of Austin. I do like the weirdness factor and 6th Street and the good live music and the overall progressive politics. But none of that would draw me like the Hill Country does. What did Jerry Jeff say about dancing naked in the Hill Country rain? I like his perspective.