> The internal microphone being disabled when the laptop is closed.
> I also don't think it is a particular problem
Yes, I was referring to this. Sorry that I thought the last person was too.
It is however a problem for me, and it revealed the 2nd problem, which is now something many users have to deal with because of the 1st problem.
Regardless of the 2nd, now in order to do an online meeting, I not only have to use the headphone jack, but in order to also use speakers while not in a meeting, I either have to keep plugging/unplugging a headset, or I have to use three separate devices: a headset (so meeting sounds from speakers are not picked up by my mic) and a separate set of speakers that are plugged into an old RadioShack switch button that then plugs into the Mac which then allows me to push the button to flip from speakers to headset.
If the Mac gave me an option to not have the mic disable while the lid is closed and screen/keyboard/mouse being used, then I'd only need the headset. Actually I'm not even sure I'd need the headset, but with needing a separate mic, that means speakers can cause issues in meetings unless I use a headset. So the easiest solution (in repetitive usage) requires the most complex setup.
Also, the mic spy possibility still exists with the lid open... so... not really a solution, is it? A hardware switch, like the airplane mode ones on some Windows laptops, that the user can see and toggle would solve everything.
Sure, it's nice for Apple to protect me from unexpected spying, but they've removed user choice. A hardware switch would be the solution, but it's not there. Oversimplification? Yes. Dumbing down their products? Yes. Considering their users dumb? Yes. There's plenty of dumber things macOS allows people to do, like the default log-off/shutdown showing a box that waits 60 seconds, which people tend to ignore.
Removing our ability to use the mic with the lid closed is not about protecting us, it's about protecting Apple.
