I've got to say, I would never keep a car in NY either. But regardless, I'd get my license. Not being able to drive a car is quite different from not having one. That said, I've got a car in Boston, and it's not a big deal. Keeping a car in Philadelphia isn't so bad either. As for NY, I wouldn't keep one in Manhattan, but there's areas in Brooklyn and such where it wouldn't be so bad to rely on street parking.
And it's not getting around IN the city that you keep the car for though, it's getting OUT entirely. (Which, I don't know about you folks, but I need to do every now and then.)