land ownership (title) is ultimately determined by reference to government records, right? So wouldn't squatting be just as effective?

Also, if ownership in the eyes of the government is the goal, don't overlook California and Florida, where homesteading is the law (perhaps some other states as well). Under the law, essentially, you can be stripped of all other assets to pay bad debts, but you can protect all or a part of your equity in the property.

And while home ownership and land ownership are slightly different, for most people in the world, irrespective of race, they amount to the same thing. Home ownership without land ownership = trailer. Land ownership without home ownership usually = investment property, which usually follows home ownership rather than precedes it.

Peace.