Same thing for long commutes, they’re terrible.
But still companies keep building new cubicle farms in downtown cores. Maybe office workers are just done with this stupid shit.
Noise could be a little much, but people were generally polite and quiet.
My next job was literally a desk in the middle of the floor. All the prime employees had desks that went along the edge of the wall, forming a horseshoe and, when they ran out of room, they started putting desks in the center. So i was basically working on a stage in front of 40 people. It was awful, but I never slacked off! (well, i went for walks a lot)
For the most part (in my area), the only reason companies have moved downtown is because the city has given them sweetheart deals to be there. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of workers commute into the downtown area, because it's not a desirable place to live.
Of course there are wealthy cities and suburbs, but if you want a walkable commute within reason, <15 minutes, you pay a premium.
[1] including Africa, the open ocean, space, Papua New Guinea, a jail cell....