I think RTO would have been a lot more palatable if most offices weren't intentionally built with 1hr+ commutes from residential areas.
Used to be, you could live close but maybe not the best neighborhood.
Now everything that's not some new exurb 1hr+ away from medium-large metros is insanely priced.
You could have smaller offices in different neighborhoods, but there's usually not enough people in any given suburban area to justify an office. Co-working spaces are one compromise but larger companies dislike them for security/secrecy reasons.
I would also add that many people have reasons for not moving closer to work even if they could. Also people are no longer working for decades at the same job, and moving is a hassle if you're changing jobs every few years.