In pandemic times, fears of waldenponding seem less applicable. It's not about building a new city or society, but a transient, protected retreat. (e.g. the Recurse Center). …It seems valuable to shield these sorts of endeavors from an environment that's increasingly hostile to knowledge work.

But remote RC is working, and it includes most of the best parts of RC because it includes the most important part: kind, thoughtful, curious people who are committed to becoming better programmers together.