You have to remember that Cataclysm takes place 5 days (If I remember the timeline correctly) after first infection. So starting areas have to reflect that.
Maybe it’d be part of the points system. Evac shelter is 0 points. Starting in a cabin is -4 points. Waking up in your home after being knocked out (Middle of a town) is +5 points. It’d be part of character creation.
I dunno. I kind of honestly like starting in the evac shelter.