Dieting doesn't work because it is hard. 

So the author couldn't get remote work to function because it is hard and because of that, "it just doesn't work"?  How many companies has he studied where it does work?  How much of a leadership style of assigning accountabilities vs. activities have you implemented?

Having worked 25+years remotely as an employee in small and very large companies, or later as CEO of two businesses, a marketing agency and an internet retail business with all remote staff, I can tell you that remote work can work. Rather well. You need to want it to work and design your organization and processes accordingly, though. 

While there are situations in which there's only little benefit to working remotely, this one here doesn't strike me as one. 

My coaching to the author would be, if you truly want it, do it again, you haven't tried hard enough.