Yeah, but choice is a good thing, and you get that with a shorter commute.
A shorter commute sure is nice in foul weather, if you're not feeling well, or if you're running late. Lemme tell ya, in the middle of a snowstorm, or when the winds are whipping off the lake in February, four to five miles is about all I want to do. And conveniently, that's the length of my winter and default routes.
As someone who will stick the bike on the trainer when the snow flies and switch to swimming & spinning for my primary sources of exercise, my hat is off to the commuters who don the studs and ride in the snow. You guys are badasses in a league your own.
Re: longer commutes, you have to admit that there's a certain amount of satisfaction when you see that look on a non-cyclist's face & they say, "You ride in from WHERE?"