> Perhaps it could have happened over Zoom, but my experience is that post-scheduled meeting most people drop off instantly — they’re not interested in any casual conversation. Most people say a word or two about the weather or their sports team then jump into their next Zoom call.

In person or remote, if there are other meetings I'm not hanging out, I'm off to the next one.

> Perhaps it could have happened over Zoom

Videoconferencing is the wrong tool for that sort of thing. IMs are a much better tool for that.

> my experience is that post-scheduled meeting most people drop off instantly

This is my experience with in-person meetings, too. The millisecond the meeting is over, everyone goes back to work.

> I had a single casual conversation spontaneously in the office that directly led to a million dollar product getting created. It wasn’t even a “bouncing idea” talk, it came from nerds nerding-out at the lunch table.

How much of that $1M was reflected in your paycheck?

Seems off topic, but the equity I’ve been compensated with has been sufficiently worthwhile and don’t feel hard done by. YMMV.

I have random chats in the "watercooler" channels with like minded people. It's whether you're interested in anything - not whether you hang out in the right room.

I hang out in those rooms too. My experience doesn’t mean good ideas don’t or can’t happen there. But I personally feel more “creatively productive” when I can read the room and gauge folks’ expressions/enthusiasm.

People are different. What works for me may not work for you, your team, company culture, etc.