Also, as far as I understand there just isn’t enough pins to support all the modes at once so trade offs have to be made...
Works today with Linux here! It's just magical, I tell you.
The world started to happen already, it may not become all that good and 100% universal soon or anytime, but good enough for a wide spread adoption.
Nintendo Switch uses the USB-C connector, but they're off spec which lead to people breaking their devices by connecting them to cabling/docks that weren't to the Switch's implementation. Think there was more nuance to it than just that, but grand scheme of things, the whole fiasco around that highlights concerns as no one wants to brick their devices.
This seems like a relatively easy fix that as you mention isn't 100%, but exists. On my MacBook Pro, the only reason I know my ports are Thunderbolt is because I know their specifications: the ports aren't marked in any particular way. The body/bodies involved with USB/Thunderbolt should make it a requirement that ports (and perhaps cables) indicate what it is capable of in a similar way to how USB 3.x TypeA/B cables have blue coloring within the port and the plug. At that stage, if I see a blue colored port or plug, I know I'm dealing with a 3.x USB one. If you refuse/can't meet the specification, you then shouldn't be able to use USB Type C for your product.
Instead, in their rush to get everything on USB Type C, they have seemingly tossed out any pretense of standards needing to be met to use the port and may stifle the port's adoption going forward.
The downside is when I want to use the same kb/mouse with my desktop, I have to unplug them from the monitor and plug them into the desktop.
I use a cheap USB hub which has a button that can switch between two outputs for this:
I don't run Windows so I can't answer that but Ubuntu 19.04 runs fine, although I've had minor issues with the laptop coming out of sleep and not outputting to the display occasionally.
EDIT: It's really nice in portrait for coding. I don't use the supplied stand but a desk mounted arm.
Linux on Dex was never particularly useful.
Is there some setting I need to enable on my phone, or is my setup just different in some way?
There's also a setting to switch between modes under Settings -> Connections -> More connection settings -> HDMI mode.
The dream kills cheap machines. The reality is that they will cut corners to compete on price, and who you gonna call?
The dock works without issue on both of my laptops, a MacBook Pro (13") and Dell Precision laptop.
Then I plugged my LG G6 and I could download at 80mb/s with the ethernet cable and I can use my mouse and keyboard, it even recognized my NAS.