DY, thye are much less dangerous than American cities and malls. however, if someone feels that another community is more appropriate for him ain hachi nami he should live there. Rav Kook said that just as Am Yisrael can only develop spiritually in EY an individual Jew can only develop spiritually in his portion.
Sam,the boundaries of EY are a subject of much discussion. Apparently they depend in large part on settlement. The first mishna in Gittin gives Akko as the northern boundary and David considered Gat to be Chul (Ketubot 110b). However, in the time of the Tanach southern Lebanon was part of EY (Laish) and it is definitely part of the Promised Land.
Joseph, Eilat was conquered by Shlomo HaMelech (Etzion Geber) and later by the IDF. Both were kibushei rabbim.