The reason that, at my last corporate gig, the best and most responsible/burdened developers were on IM well into the evenings, after a full day in the office.

The reason that, at my last corporate gig, the best and most responsible/burdened developers were on IM well into the evenings, after a full day in the office. Because "Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home." I understand that Yahoo management screwed the pooch. From my position, outside of that management, it appears that the fallout is now in part on some of the most productive people. I put up with that bullshit long enough. Were I at Yahoo, I'd immediately decide that they were asking me to pay for others' mistakes. And I'd be looking to move. That's just me. I abhor the needless and counter-productive distraction of open offices. But... some of the best people I've worked with were and are the same way. And... they were generally acknowledged to be the best in their domains at those companies.