Thank you for bringing this up, I learned a lot today! I'll read through the suggested post that you put up, regarding kernel panics, popping/crackling sound issues and also the lack of ability to go back to a pervious version of macOS because of the T2 chip. It must be quite frustrating since you do have an apps that don't play well with it, especially since this is suppose to be the latest and greatest laptop from the company that touts the slogan, "it just works" for years.
Having say that, I personally, like many others who have responded on this thread, do not seem to suffer from the same problems. No kernel panics, no popping/crackling sound while watching videos on YouTube or Netflix or while scrubbing through the timeline on Final Cut Pro X. In the last 2 weeks of using the Macbook Pro 16", everything has been peachy.
The main reason why I love the T2 chip is easy access even when I am not wearing my Apple Watch, which happens more often than not, while I am at home.
- Ease of logging in after entering sleep mode
- Ease of accessing administrator privilege
- Easy access of Apple Keychain
I was also aware that T2 chip quicken encoding of videos in certain codec.
Things that I learn today.
- T2 chip prevents hacking into the Mac even from side channel attacks, such as the cold boot attack. It shift responsibility for security-critical aspects of Mac hardware out of the hands of the CPU and traditional computing components—where they can be subject to hacks and malfeasance—into a “secure enclave,” a separate environment inaccessible to hacks, malware, and even hardware-based security risks.
- T2 chip grants instant data encryption over FileVault, a process that use to require many hours, depending on how much data you have on your storage.
- T2 chip image signal processor allows for better FaceTime HD performance.
- T2 chip powers, hands free "Hey Siri".
- T2 chip audio controller contributes to better sound quality, for both the speakers and the mic.
- T2 chip physically disables the mic on the Mac when the lid is close, effectively defeating potential remote surveillance hacks.
- T2 act as independent co-processors, enhancing performance by handling common tasks for the Mac and enabling the CPU to focus on other things.
The list is by no means exhaustive, but I dare say it seems to be a pretty good thing to have, rather than not.
