Given that you oddly brought up ycombinator's habits (which accounts for approximately 0% of the workforce), you seem to be emotionally invested in this idea.
But as someone who works remotely, and who works with a large number of people who work remotely a good portion of the time, and an increasing number who work remotely the vast majority of the time, I will say that you are simply wrong. I mean, completely wrong. Even staid old corporations like banks and insurance companies are introducing multiple days of working at home policies for all level of employees. This is not some strange new thing, it is simply happening.
I brought up YC as a lot of people on HN hold it in high esteem and look up to it for inspiration and leading-edge best practices about running businesses. Obviously not everyone.
It also appears our discussion has ended up as generalizations vs anecdotes. Sorry about that.
But as someone who works remotely, and who works with a large number of people who work remotely a good portion of the time, and an increasing number who work remotely the vast majority of the time, I will say that you are simply wrong. I mean, completely wrong. Even staid old corporations like banks and insurance companies are introducing multiple days of working at home policies for all level of employees. This is not some strange new thing, it is simply happening.