What dolt would think that more noise & distraction would make for a more productive workplace where the product requires sustained periods of focus? It's literally the dumbest thing you can do in that circumstance.
I think that’s all just propaganda and the real reason for it is so that management can always keep an eye on their code cattle
I don't think it's about monitoring, but it's probably about status, and your use of the word 'code cattle' seems relevant (I was also thinking about farms). Or a more apt comparison would be factory floors.
I don't think it's nefarious, not usually at least. It's just a lot cheaper and then it's justified after-the-fact as fostering collaboration or whatever. I'm not asking for my own office (though I would love it), but at least some physical division like a cubicle.