I think it is subjective. Having done both a few times, from both sides, and I still prefer remote. Little is lost and much is gained in terms of control over ones environment.

We surveyed the opinions of our 2021 summer intern population before they started and something over 90% of them expressed a preference to be in the office.

Of course, summer interns are a slightly odd population as the choice they're making is probably between doing their internship remotely from their bedroom at their parents house or spending ten weeks in the big city so there is that.

Also because interns are looking to be rehired at the end of the summer.

I would only hire that 10%, those 90% are saying I need more hand holding.

They're interns. They are supposed to have their hands held, it's a learning position.

It has nothing to do with hand holding. Almost every blocker is tribal knowledge that there is no way to acquire other than asking.

Aside from asking you should be exploring, probing, reviewing anything you have access to. Clues are everywhere and relying only on others to teach you will be a difficult strategy. If documentation is missing identify and get the docs fixed, opportunities can exist.

I have never interned. Maybe you expect that. I usually get thrown into the deepend of some codebase and asked to figure it out. My advise would be to get use to it and get good at it.

10% are saying they enjoy no responsibility.