> 2) a tad too difficult to enter unless you're on a mobile keyboard
Windows and macOS both have great on-screen keyboards (OSK)/input method editor (IME) for emoji. Many (most?) Linux desktop environments also provide one. On Windows it is Win+. or Win+; and on macOS it is Ctrl+Cmd+Space and on Gnome it is Ctrl+Shift+E,Space or Super+E.