I would think a key development towards getting people back into the office is to recreate offices. Having a bullpen where everybody is on noise-cancelling headphones and wearing blinders isn't the "free and open collaboration" they prattle on about. And once you fire up a communication tool in said office to talk to somebody else your argument is undercut.

Yeah, physical goods require contact and that'll be an office or a factory. Secure work requires a secure facility. But otherwise? Especially if things are outsourced or offshored. I also think companies are going to get into lower cost of labour and that workers will get into (or are already into) lower cost of living. And the recruiting position is far wider when relocation isn't required.