[mnemicmeme]

Working remotely doesn't mean someone is unambitious or antisocial. The ability to focus without interruptions while still communicating/documenting clearly is easier done with remote work (in my experience).

I think you touched on a sad aspect of tech. For anyone to be "ambitious" or to "move above an intermediate level" they essentially have to become managers, which means less technical work. The likelihood of you joining the VP/higher ranks and still working on low level issues, as a respected technical fellow, are low to nill (Google, FB, MS have some positions but otherwise you're filtered into a manager to "move up.").

Your comment about "striving for more" is disrespectful to most developers/engineers.

How are people who spend their entire work days talking to others, but not actually working, "doing more?" I've seen more talkative/social people not getting work done than "antisocial" workers being "unambitious" or stagnant.