I'm particularly concerned that some people seem to want some of these things to go on forever: forced working from home even after the pandemic, mask use for colds, etc. It's like a dystopian future.
Yes. It's a huge concern (except for the suggestion of East Asian style courtesy towards others, by wearing a mask when ill).
Some of most vocal anti containment measures voices will be coming from people who want to permanently change society. Often (as with full-time WFH) at the expense of widening the inequality gap and significant lowering of standards - from customer service to support organisations to quality of life.
Our children will know who to blame if we allow them to grow up and old in a future with endemic Covid, forever at risk of Long Covid disability.
They'll see what Australia, New Zealand, East Asia, and parts of Africa did, and they'll know it wasn't inevitable. They'll know it could have been suppressed.
Had we all taken the same common sense and basic infection control measures that the more sensible countries did, this would have all been over a year ago.
Right now we are at a crossroads. Not yet at the point of no return. Put in place temporary border control including proper quarantine, get T&T working, mask adherance.
Then get the majority of the population fully vaccinated. Here, and the rest of the world. Hopefully Biden's talks with the drugs companies will be successful. He's right that temporary patent waiver is part of the way out if this mess).