I really think this is a backwards way to look at it. Work typically happens in an organization, and in organizations you don't always do the most optimal thing for yourself as an individual. I know everyone on HN would love it if they just got a steady stream of tickets into their inbox, never had a meeting about anything ever, and only interacted with git and HN. But that's not how the world works. Being attentive and engaged for 30 minutes while you get information that may very well make your job easier is not a big ask.
I love love love working from home full-time but this is my chief complaint about it - before COVID (at least in the smaller places I worked), if you brought your laptop into a meeting, spent the entire time typing, and didn't engage anyone, you'd probably get either a warning or it would be your last meeting. It forced people to actually pay attention and not just pretend like they were, or at the very least risk getting called out for it.
And while 12 is certainly pushing it, I've definitely been in productive working meetings with 6-8 people where all have been contributing.
Having worked from home for 20 years now, before COVID people were more careful to work within the medium (at least in the places I worked). Someone blissfully playing on their laptop ignoring what's going on around them was never an issue as you would never be put in that situation to begin with.
Since 2020, it seems everyone wants to carbon copy the office at home. I expect because they haven't (yet) developed WFH skills, which is understandable, especially in organizations that were abruptly thrusted into the home without experienced leadership to guide those unfamiliar with the environment along.
I love love love working from home full-time but this is my chief complaint about it - before COVID (at least in the smaller places I worked), if you brought your laptop into a meeting, spent the entire time typing, and didn't engage anyone, you'd probably get either a warning or it would be your last meeting. It forced people to actually pay attention and not just pretend like they were, or at the very least risk getting called out for it.
And while 12 is certainly pushing it, I've definitely been in productive working meetings with 6-8 people where all have been contributing.