The funny thing about your edit is that I wish the headphone jack was still in the back because I use regular speakers and all my headphones can connect via usb. Now, unless I use a dock (which will probably have to happen anyway eventually, to be fair) I’ll have to plug things in the front and back at all times.
I guess that does make sense for powered speakers.
My speakers are passive so I have a preamp and amplifier powering them which comes off USB-A. Both the preamp and amp have a headphone jack on the front. I also have one of those Satechi Mac mini docks that has a headphone jack.
The Satechi reminds me that there are some smart third parties out there there. I could imagine a peripheral that’s loaded with some front mounted ports (usb, headphone, SD card). And maybe they could figure out a purely mechanical lever to press the power button. I would think that issue is more about the force of the press being enough to press the button without lifting the computer itself off the peripheral. Such a device would get me more excited about the new Mini. Although, I despise having to purchase peripherals to resolve bugs (I just bought an iPhone 16 that required a case so it doesn’t wobble on a flat surface).
