It took him this long to get an apartment of his own. I guess he wanted to save up his money so if he lost his job he wouldn't be reduced to starving himself again.
How exactly is using his powers when no one can see him, 'cheating'? Is he treating himself like alt-Lana wanted him act? That the powers didn't exist at all? But that wouldn't explain him using them to protect Lois and visit his folks?
He lived alone before. It just took this long for him to get to his canon apartment. It's cheating because no normal person could pull off what he managed as quickly as he did.
