Maybe just one card with multiple ports in it would solve that problem. I get the design decision but using one usb c port to a singular function does feel wasteful, when you can plug a dock in that has three USB 3.0 A ports, USB C passthough, ethernet, HDMI, SD card reader all into a singular USB C port (looking at my $40 laptop dock on my desk currently for how many ports they squeezed into it!)

You could just use a USB hub if you need so many extra.

> I'm supposing that's in the configuration wizard when you elect to buy?

You're in for a treat if you buy this. You can swap the ports around using modules. So basically if you want different ports for your laaptop, you can do that without replacing the whole computer. You can even change them throughout day as needed.

The ports are all USB C - thing built in dongles that can be swapped.

In the wizard you get modules. You can hot swap modules because the are really USB-C under the hood. The laptop essentially has 4 USB-C ports and a module system to plug adapters in. You can avoid dongles this way.

I'm not entirely sure why they did 4. 4 is more than other competitor laptops in this size category have. It could have to do with what the processor can handle or the space in a form factor of this size.

No, all ports are USB-C. You can then choose which 'modules' are plugged into them, and swap them at any time.

Essentially, they are like 'dongles', but they sit flush and don't take additional space.

Agreed but I wanted to highlight the fact that it has 4 USBC ports which is rare for a laptop.