This is the same reason in housing market where landlords let their property sit empty instead of accepting lower rent. There is a perception that lower rents attract problem tenants and it’s not worth the headache even if that means losing money.
Flash had its problems but as a user, it looked sharper and smoother than even current websites. And its editor gave non-tech users ability to create amazing animations, interfaces, and even games.
I wasn’t homeschooled but I have been working from home for good part of last two decades. And I have not felt any negative effects of it.
In fact, it forced me to go out seek friends in local communities like meetups and various clubs. I have a feeling that people who feel isolated due to WFH would be same people who don’t interact with anyone in the offices as well.
I have considered physical therapy or massage tech. Anything that requires manipulation by hands because, hopefully, hard to replicate with robots or AI. Other jobs in similar categories are HVAC technicians, electricians, etc. But I am just too old for crawling in attics. PT seems nice though, you work indoors, it is a need, not a luxury want, and certification process will, hopefully, keep it from getting too overcrowded.
Sadly, I have witnessed three of my friends who started THC product to deal with anxiety, developed paranoia. Two of them quit THC and got better but one got way worse and now is in process of divorce. His personality is completely different, he was pretty chill guy but now he is talking way too much, easily distracted, and always worried about macro events.
This is happening in the US firms too. Yesterday, our CTO asked us to look into multi-cloud solutions. We know it is politically motivated decision with no cost savings or benefit.