Its a little more complex than this, and it really depends on where you live, what current rents are going for. In my area it is $500-600 dollars cheaper to pay a mortgage. I do agree one should never buy a home because of the tax deduction feature.
This is not a rent vs. own argument. This is a "paying off your mortgage vs. paying a mortgage for the purpose of getting a tax deduction" argument.
Now, try again.
My sisters live in Fairfield County. Yea the one that GE Corporate HQ abandoned for Boston for lower taxes(figure that out) and the housing market is awash with high middle manager homes. Taking 6-12 months to sell. The problem they have is that they pay over $1,000 per month on their homes for taxes. They are finally selling and moving South. Going to be a tarheel.