I can’t pinpoint when we started going to conferences and conventions and symposiums in person again. For a while, nothing was in person, and then some things were, and now a lot of them.
Remote work is possible, but it really is hard to have large gatherings remotely. And it is really hard to have trade shows remotely, in the hall next to your breakout sessions.
The most important thing about conferences is meeting new people. I spend a lot of time with my head sideways trying to read name tags.