I think it’s a bundle of factors why so much of management has turned their backs on WFH the last few years, but ego is certainly one of them.
My personal theory is that work-driven extroverts are typically those in management and executive positions. It’s not shocking that they’d be miserable having empty offices. This is especially so for those where the majority of their professional careers have revolved around networking and climbing the ladder by knowing the right people.
Regardless, it’s all been extremely frustrating to witness. I’m extroverted at work, but I loathe going into the office more than one or two days a week. I try to keep my social life completely separate from work, but I’ve known countless people whose primary socializing revolved around their job. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, some job fields just naturally tend to foster more camaraderie than others due to the nature of their work (e.g. odd work hours, extremely demanding work environment, etc). I just despise it when those who desire it and are in a position to force it on other workers do so.