[throwaway286]

In the small sample size of my jobs, cubicles are getting much shorter.

In my pre 2010 job, the walls of the cube I had were quite tall and gave reasonable privacy. In my 2016 job, they were quite short for "enhanced collaboration". I didn't really feel "safe" in my short cube, for lack of a better word.

[samstave]

the feeling "safe" is a good way to put it, actually.

If you feel "safe" in that manner, it increases your focus, and thus productivity.