I can't remember if I saw this in Slack or Peopleware (either way, very evidence-light books), but they made the great point that there's basically no good data on open plans being better than offices. It's just that you can measure the cost of floor space and it makes manager lives easier. Programmers benefit from thinking, managers benefit from being able to ask people for updates on a whim and lowering costs in the short-term, and guess who decides on the seating arrangements?

I have some other hot takes on how, despite I believe Peopleware being a Bill Gates favourite and my executives drooling at the thought of being as wealthy as him, they don't actually read or do anything of the things he recommends when it doesn't result in an immediate superficial victory.