I'd like to chime in since I do both commute and trade from home.
The environment is very different and I much much prefer working out of an office with other eyes watching the market. Despite all the technology that allows for conferencing with other traders, I find the structure in these rooms to be very top-down dictated and the information that comes to you is not as organic.
It takes a little more effort to get up everyday and come in to the office, especially when you have the option not to, that also may indicate some characteristics of in-house traders. Perhaps it may be motivational. Doesn't have to be, but I can definitely see that being the case for some. Of course, distance is also a big factor.
Overall, I think it's great that trading provides the flexibility to work remotely; however, there's no genuine substitute for an in-house environment.