Satellite towns have made sense for a long time. They are the best trade-off for those who want affordable housing, urban lifestyle, and access to a decent job market. Remote work doesn't change the situation much, because most jobs still require human contact.

The recipe for a satellite town is simple. Create a fast and frequent rail connection to the central city and build dense mixed-use areas around the station, with lower-density areas farther away. The rail connection is the key. Car-centric satellite towns create too much traffic and often can't reach sufficient density to support local services.