[oblio]

Sort of related to your username, those are unicorns. Most companies are dysfunctional or barely functional. Why those same companies have 99% of the time open spaces is not a mystery.

It's cheap.

It's not because XP, pair programming, quick feedback or any other ponies/unicorns, it's because you can cram more people in a smaller place.

Oh, and also control. Managers at least have the illusion of direct control or even better, they have a Stasi-like informant network in case someone "misbehaves".