Just one question for you: Do you actually not believe that Apple turned the camera module vertical due to internal space, or are you just saying that it wasn’t the only reason they did so?
As for the camera protrusion, competitors either have worse cameras, or they have thicker devices. Let’s give you facts you then do what you wish with them:
iPhone 8: 7.3mm (protrudes)
iPhone 8 Plus: 7.5mm (protrudes)
iPhone X: 7.7mm (protrudes)
Google Pixel 2 XL: 7.9mm (protrudes)
Galaxy S8+: 8.1mm (slight protrusion due to ring around camera module)
Galaxy Note 8: 8.6mm (slight protrusion due to ring around camera module)