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Let's take a common case: I have a motherboard sound device which I use 95% of the time, and I have a USB camera that has a built-in microphone.

When I go to settings in Google Hangout, it asks me which device I want to use. ALSA presents the interfaces. I choose whatever combination I want -- mic from the camera, headphone out through the mobo -- and it works.

How many people ever had more than one sound card in their computer, let alone a need to switch between them ?

http://xkcd.com/619/

Everyone with headphones or headsets using Bluetooth or USB.

I have some USB speakers I'm fond of, and PulseAudio was indeed the only way they ever worked right for me on Linux.

As CPU counts continue to rise and Flash support continues to get dropped from more pltforms, that comic will become more ironic.

I think I have four: Onboard audio, pcie sound card, usb microphone and hdmi audio on video card.

Not sure if serious