I have been to Dell in Round Rock a few times, I used to manage the build and deployment of hardware for a sw dev co that spend about 4 million each quarter on hardware so I would get invited to training events - I was actually there for 9/11 - fun times. They believe in cost cutting to the bone. Keep in mind this was 20 years ago, their facilities were still new, and that we were spending $20M/yr, back in 2000. I came for a tour and our inside rep sat at what could barely be considered a desk in what could have passed as wide hallway, and she would back her chair into the person sitting behind her on a regular basis. No one has an office, they have small conference rooms you can book if you need to talk privately. Who would want to come back to that? And whose home office wouldn't be better than that?

I have been home based since 2006 and I wouldn't be opposed to going into the office under the right circumstances. And there are things you have to do when you are remote that just naturally occur when you are in the office with your peers day-to-day, but it doesn't impact my work. Maybe if you are more junior and rely on your peers more it might impact it that way but usually ppl seek me out for help instead of the other way around.