I'm currently on a business trip staying a Hampton Inn in a low cost rural area of the USA. The nightly rate is $120. This is not a high end hotel- generally considered 2-star level out of 5. The nearby Comfort Inn is one step lower in quality of accommodation and guests, and gets $75. Anything cheaper than that is a filthy, crime-ridden bucket of blood.

In most places, you don't pay the day rate for long stays.

From my reading of the article, my understanding is that they’re doing science in the hotel room, not living there long-term.

Motels are not a habitation of last resort by any means. They’re a convenient place to stay while traveling.

I expect the vast majority of motel patrons are additionally paying a rent/mortgage for their main habitation.

Where are you from? What would be a normal or comfortable rate for you?

Yeah salaries in the US are higher in nominal terms