I actually think a desktop replacement is the best case scenario for this MacBook. I love that with one cable I can plug in entire desktop computer. It's finally almost as perfect as my 1995 PowerBook Duo, which had essentially ONE port. It's the traveling part that becomes an issue. It's bad enough people have to carry a bunch of chargers with them, a lightning cable, a watch cable, a USB-C cable, maybe even a 30-pin cable, but now to be prepared for anything, a whole bag of dongles for the MacBook. That's as bad as my PowerBook Duo for which I had to carry around various port adapters and accessories for it's one port when I traveled. Apple has already tried this experiment.
Now wireless does change that equation over my experience in 1995. However, there are pitfalls with wireless -- not having access to a reliable internet connection for one. A wireless peripheral means powering it. So that means carrying around even more charging cables. So to be prepared for anything, a MacBook user will need a bag full of gear in addition to their light and portable MacBook. And connecting wireless peripherals isn't that easy. Typically you need special software to connect them, or the MacBook has to be reconfigured as a router, which sacrifices internet connectivity. And yes, files can be passed around via DropBox, or stored in iCloud assuming you have an internet signal to support it, but most wireless internet signals are incredibly slow. When I perform a complete back up my 500gb HD on my MacBook Pro to my TimeCapsule via WiFi, it takes a day. When I back it up via Ethernet, it's a matter of a few hours. So I don't really understand how you can say we shouldn't discuss which is better, wireless or wired. Clearly there are all kinds of issues that make one a better choice over the other. So when a MacBook user does need access to wires, with the MacBook they will likely need special dongles, docks, or hubs.
In the end, why have any ports at all then? Wireless can do everything such people need. Just stick an inductive charging port on it, and let it charge over night with your Watch. I never plug my iPad into anything except to charge it. And isn't this targeted to the same crowd? Just force people down the same path and accept the limitations of wireless technology. Clearly this is not a laptop meant to be taken camping in a National Park where there is no internet service, but one meant for the urban traveler who will always have a wireless connection, and have access to any content they need, so no need for any ports. Until you do need one. And in that case, why not two to make the MacBook as versatile as possible? Do I need a MacBook Pro? No. Only in the sense that I need to plug things into ports. I don't mind the Ethernet dongle, as I rarely use it, and can generally leave it connected to the cable anyway. But I do plug things into my USB and Thunderbolt ports. I rarely use the audio output, so a dongle would be fine for me there as well. And I love that I can leave the MacBook plugged into power, and add and remove external devices without the need for a dongle, extra power sources, or some kind of hub. But instead of encouraging customers to accept less and move into a direction Apple would prefer, they're making the jump difficult.
They've taken away magsafe which has saved my MacBook on more than one occasion, and makes connecting just power only a piece of cake (which is 90% of the time). They've already forced the use of dongles with USB-C since most people don't own compatible devices, and new technology is currently expensive. So now they're forcing even more dongles. I've always been an early adopter, the Duo with essentially one proprietary port, the iMac with no floppy drive, the PowerBook without SCSI, the MacBook without a CD drive. But one port? It makes no sense for all the reasons I've stated, even if you accept the user is predominately going to rely essentially on wireless connectivity. Trading ultra portability for a bag of charging cables and dongles "just in case" is a poor way to advance the cause. The MacBook weighs slightly less than the MacBook Air, the 11" of which actually has a smaller footprint, costs less, and has a full compliment of ports. It would seem that the distinction, which Apple will likely never enhance to push the new MacBook, is the retina display. For now, anyone I've tried to pitch the new MacBook, has always rethought the proposition after being initially excited, once they discover they will need a bag of expensive dongles even to insert one USB flash drive while plugged into power. Then they do a quick comparison and, retina display aside, realize they will get a lot more for their money with the Air, even if they never use the built-in functionality. So I don't really understand this from a financial position either. Then again, it's the only MacBook that comes in gold, so perhaps on that basis alone Apple made the right decision.
Whether it's an optical output or not, it's the same solution, a dongle, just like everything else you have to plug into this laptop. Since the argument is for an all wireless experience, for which you will never plug anything into the one USB-C port (it's there "just in case"), it makes just as much sense to eliminate this port as well.
