I've been a remote worker since 1998 when Byte Magazine ended. At first, and for a long time, working from home was nothing but wonderful.
Byte had been wonderful too, in many ways, but it was an office job. In that job I mainly researched tech, wrote about it, and -- as soon as the Web arrived -- wrote Web software. To do those things I needed lots of uninterrupted time to assemble context and focus on using it. Being in an office cut into that flow a lot. When commuting ended and telecommuting began, my productivity soared.
That productivity boost is now an acknowledged benefit of remote work. Here's another you don't hear so much about: quality of neighborhood life. Neighborhoods full of commuters can be ghost towns during the day. As a home worker you're a set of eyes and ears tuned into what's happening in the yard and on the street. If you're also a parent, that benign surveillance can make your house a safe gathering place for your kids and their friends. Factor in the time, effort, and fuel not expended on commuting, and the benefits add up to a compelling package.