Previously, I would probably leave the house

Judging by how they jumped to the #1 highest grossing app in the app store during this event, I would expect them to view it as productive.

Everything happens for a reason...It could be that Niantic plans to replace gen1 starter spawns with gen2 spawns so they're giving a chance for people to get them before they become rarer that they were before the event.

Agree. I only go out when I see bulbasaurs at the end of my streets or a Charizard/Blastoise.