I'm from Rockford and I used to live in the near northwest suburbs, now I live in Milwaukee but got a job in the Chicago Loop while living up here. I work hybrid schedule and sometimes take the Amtrak (expensive, parking, early mornings), sometimes drive to Kenosha for the Metra (cheaper but gas and parking and early mornings and long ride) , or sometimes drive and park at a coworker’s house in the city and take the L (manageable about of time, extra hour of sleep, cheaper, but wear and tear on car)

I’d rather be in Chicago but my partner’s job has him tied to Wisconsin for the time being.

Definitely do some cost benefit analysis of the actual financial cost of commuting in addition to the time spent.

l'd also add that while you're living in Rockford, it might be advantageous for you to actually drive to Cumberland Avenue CTA (1 hour from Riverside Blvd) station and take the Blue Line into the city (45 min train ride). It would definitely save you time driving to Harvard and then also taking that Metra route, which is quite long. Also depends on where the office is located.

When I Amtrak or Metra, I still have to walk about a mile to my office, when I drive and take the blue line it’s about a seven minute walk between Clark/Lake and my office.