Also , if you turn the screen/camera 90 degrees , you may be able to capture body language.
With regards to #3/#4 would working in a local communal center, remotely to your job would work ? Is it possible to design some culture that would help with the motivation problem ?
Anyway, it feels like something that deserves a sub forum of it's own, with a community experimenting and sharing, right ?
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663105/errol-morriss-secret-wea...
That could be a major improvement for video conferencing.
#2 is solved by Slack for us... but still,
#3 and #4 is why I don't work at home. :)