Ideas about legitimate work tend to be so bound up with professionalism. Why do I have to be dressed to be getting something done? Can't I make breakthroughs while lying on the floor or standing outside eating an apple? I'm excited about the potential of telecommuting to undermine all these superficial symptoms of work that have become so ingrained in us over time, perhaps at the expense of genuine attention to results.
Before I go to sleep, I brush my teeth, take off my day clothes, and read for a few minutes. I could just jump right into bed, but it feels weird. The routine I have is a way of telling myself "it's time for sleep." It's the same way for getting work done. Having a routine, however small, is a way to tell yourself "Now I'm working."
It's also a way to tell yourself when you're not working, which I think is equally important when you live and work in the same space.
All the downsides that are being said about telecommuting are true. But one need to learn how to overcome those. My failure was catastrophic. Lost 3 years from my life.
In my opinion, companies that allow full-time telecommuting understand that the root issue is one of trust. If you are allowed to work 100% of the time from home, it means you are being trusted to get your work done. I cannot think of anything that would inspire someone to do their best work other than that.