My complete frustration with the RTO situation is that it is so backwards thinking. Instead of trying to enhance remote work to alleviate the negatives and enhance the positives, we just stop with "Zoom+Slack" and throw up our hands and stop innovating and trying to make better remote work.

You're absolutely right. Big corporations don't like remote work and don't want to enhance it. Tech enthusiasts is the only hope for improvement in this area. The good news is that there are innovative projects that can significantly enhance remote work. I suggest trying MeetingGlass - video meetings through virtual frosted glass. This tool can make it easier for both employer and employees meet via video on a fair terms without violating prvacy.

In addition to making remote work better, make the office better too. Build offices for the future, try new things, see what works. Maybe there are a lot of hot swap desks available to those who want it, a few dedicated offices and a large conference space a mandatory all hands can be held once or twice a month. You could use that space for weekly lunches and team building exercises for people who sign up for it. Or make it an easily convertible open work space. There seems to be a better way forward with the way office work is done for those who are generally in front of a screen all of the time. Instead we're returning to 20th century ideals of office/work life.