To me, this speaks bigger to your work culture and processess es - what tools were you using to host meetings and have conversations verbally?
Assuming the right toolset, having a strong voice and impaact in a company is not impossible from a remote position.
Yes, there is real value to face time, and I agree with you on some level - but only given the proper tools and a company that respects them. Given your example, it sounds like you didn't get the attention you deserved.
If senior management are sufficiently preoccupied with other things and some Machiavellian schemer is sufficiently preoccupied with increasing their own influence over the organization, it's entirely possible that no level of detailed daily status updates and well-structured regular webconferences can undo the amount of FUD the schemer can spread by having water-cooler chats and asking "quick questions" of exactly the same members of management that don't read the status updates.
And at the risk of stating the obvious, watercooler chats can have non-negative outcomes in other situations too!
Assuming the right toolset, having a strong voice and impaact in a company is not impossible from a remote position.
Yes, there is real value to face time, and I agree with you on some level - but only given the proper tools and a company that respects them. Given your example, it sounds like you didn't get the attention you deserved.