I think you are ignoring the fact that Silicon valley is an ecosystem of engineers/product managers/sysadmins etc. all of which a growing startup needs. Hence, while a remote area might have people with ideas, it most likely will not have the eco system to sustain the growth of the startup.

I think 'the ecosystem' consists mostly of people with connections to money. Which of course is true, since the money is so provincial. Yes, there are lots of engineers there too, but as the article points out, they all have jobs plus back-up offers lined up three deep. Instead of going to the trouble to import people, why not invest in them where they're at? I'm not talking about farm towns in Iowa, I'm talking about places like Boston, New York, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, etc, etc.

True. But I think his point was that by not investing in other parts of the country, people are not giving a chance for the ecosystem to develop.

I think local culture plays a big part as well. In most other parts of the country people join big large companies and then spend their entire life being the company man or woman.

If I did that I'd cry just like the other guy said he would if the Bay Area got paved over.

If you have remote workers, you have a very very large ecosystem.

More offices in the East Bay/Berkeley would be an improvement. Maybe a mini air taxi bus to go from one tip to another. (Berkley Airport - San Carlos/Palo Alto Airport - Reid Airport)

Spot on, we need to see more business move into the east bay where there's plenty of room for it and transportation infrastructure already in place... it's only natural