but I worry about the notion that remote-only work is some sort of ideal solution to the crises we're facing because it's anything but.

I think what leaves so many people stumped is that this entire kerfluffle demonstrates the lie about our political economy. In idealized capitalist conditions we would seize the opportunity of ridding ourselves of all that office space simply because it makes financial sense. People are also more productive if their hours/commute are flexible (what's more flexible than commuting to your living room?) and their workplace comfortable. Except for those at the top who are all heavily invested in real estate, they also control the entire media apparatus, so what you have is a propaganda war to convince everyone they should be happy to go to the office. If they aren't, then something's wrong with them, their priorities, their 'mindset', and perhaps even their mental state.

Worse. That PR offensive is incapable of talking about real things, as you have. Some businesses just can't go remote, some businesses are old and due to sheer inertia won't be able to, some people would rather not work from home, some people outright can't, and, in fact, working from home can be more exploitative - as it means you're always on call, and you're always slated to work more. And yet, due to the interests of influential middle managers and landlords, the discussion is centered around completely farcical topics.

We are seeing the growing pains of a major change in the means of production. All that clerical work that defines many of the richer pockets of global society will have to reckon with remote work as a possibility. And instead of getting ahead of future issues with housing, transportation, work/life balance, and the livability of our neighborhoods, we have this stupid debate about how entitled people don't want to live in a cubicle.

the most cursed solution would be if workers had to pay to WFH at internet cafes as businesses started closing office spaces

(sorry that turned into a massive rant but it's something I needed to get off my chest)

No, that's all fine and reasonable, it's just my own personal frustration. The company I have been working for has decided to force people back now, apropos of nothing (and after previously attempting such an idea but halting it due to it's massive unpopularity). We had a completely flex work setup (work from home or in office however often you feel like per week), and it's just...incomprehensible.

We also immediately lost someone that was going to be working with us and filling an important position, and I can't imagine becoming less flexible is appealing (although our disconnected executives are trying to tout it as such lmao)

I didn't mean to come off as completely unsympathetic to people for whom it's a more desirable option, just mourning the loss of flexibility that had actually gotten me to be ok with my job