I dislike thinking that the parts that go into cars is "simple" and "not state of the art" but the ones I am aware of are indeed not fabricated on the lines using the smallest lithography (voltages too high). Thing is, all wafers start as blank slates, and then are built up (ion implantation, metal sputtering, whatever). Different processes for making different technologies. But all with the same common root. And if you can't get those blank wafers, then everyone suffers.
Most companies are fabless now. Very big money to keep up, to explore the next technology, to expand.
Not sure if the wafers cost more and if there was a bidding war--probably was. But I have to think, during the shortage, most of these wafers were likely under contract. Pre-sold, will be bought on date ____. Hot lots get negotiated, bought, not sure how that works, maybe the fab acts like a brokerage and sells unwanted wafers (company abc realizes they have too much inventory, sells back the wafers they bought for next month or year) to the highest bidder?
It'd boost my work output for sure. We were lousing about it the other day, and I simply spread my arms out, said yep, this is what happens when we have to be in-office. Morale might be helped, but I can see why people feel disconnected and less loyalty, hard to build necessary peer to peer relationships in jobs where collaboration is required.