I wonder if that is like cheating in a sense?  I would think it's easier to work with people remotely who you have built relationships with.  You understand them, you have seen how they operate in person and gain insights beyond what is spoken/written and have a certain common culture.  I work with outsourcing/offshoring and now work remotely with a partner who used to be local.  I don't think it would work if we hadn't spent all the face-to-face time first.