Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you're doing serious development and require resources to support Docker ... why did you choose to purchase the lowest spec'd laptop Apple has to sell?
I got desperate as they couldn't do anything about it at work (nor could I). So, on the 22nd December, I went to look for an MBA as I'm now sensitive to even the slightest fan noise. At that time, there was a shortage of stock, so I didn't have much choice.
I don't actually know if there's a 16GB option, as all I'm finding in my country is the 8GB.
Nonetheless, even for the iMac, I think a max of 32GB would have been reasonable,
I'm sorry, but I just cant bring myself to believe this statement. There's no way a computer fan can get loud enough to cause hearing damage.
I've just tested with a sound meter app on my phone; granted this isn't the most accurate way of doing it.
Silent in my room: 30db
Fan on while running and GPU is activated: max 90db.
I wish a computer manufacturer could guarantee what you're saying, because I could get a letter from my ENT doctor, take precise measurement; and sue the manufacturers for damaging my hearing.
how close was it to your head? what kind of fan?