Well look at the information out there on the pros and cons of remote depositions. In person seems to be better as the remote in the US still is not a mature solution, riddled with technical difficulties.
It’s there to stay and will mature, but it’s not there yet. Covid pushed everyone to ignore some of the drawbacks but they are still there.
I have no clue if the judge is indeed 80 years old, but in the end the judge has free reign over their cours proceedings.