- There's a massive economic downturn resulting in job losses, power briefly shifts from the employees to the employers, and the incumbent office-heads indeed insists on RTO.

- But they would soon go out of business competing against new employers that are remote-only and have far lower overhead, killing RTO again.

EDIT

One other scenario that just came to mind is an extreme amount of new building and revitalization in cities. If they build enough units, and enough big, nice units, and spruce up the place a bit, living in a city will become cheaper and more practical.

If I can live in a huge nice condo with decent rent, no homeless people on the sidewalk, and close to the office, I wouldn't mind RTO so much.

As it is, city living only makes sense for those in their 20's or those who are truly dedicated to the city lifestyle.