> the horror of commute doesn't make up for the gains of socializing and others that just abhor having to talk to real-life people. Then there are people who work mainly to get paid and do not care to invest themselves beyond what is necessary. But are those really the majority? I always saw tech as the field where a disproportionally large amount of people truly love what they do. Mostly, because it takes so much grit and persistence to get good at it that most people wouldn't succeed unless they see something in it beyond putting food on the table.
Tech also attracts a disproportionate number of introverts who would rather work by themselves then interact with other people. Have you considered that maybe people want to work from home because it allows them to focus on their work better? That they do love what they do, but the social interaction and noises in the office distract them from that?
> Have I been under some weird form of Stockholm Syndrom where I actually enjoyed something that was pure torture to most?
No, of course not. But just because something is enjoyable to you doesn't mean it isn't torture for someone else.
> Have a lot of people realized they don't actually like being among other people, apart from their closest friends and family?
Yes. There are a lot of people like that. It's called being an introvert. And for many, including myself, it isn't some sudden realization, we have just had to endure going to the office because that is the way the world worked. But the normalization of WFH finally allowed us to work in an environment that is better for us.