>No, it isn't. Businesses tend to play "follow the leader", so the ability to find a company offering substantially different work conditions is limited.

Assuming your premise is true, the 'leader' here would be remote-work if we are to believe that amazing benefits and therefore success that it can bring to a business. Businesses tend to copy things that other successful companies are doing.

You calling it a cartel situation is not fair, but I'm going to look the other way and assume you did that just for effect.