I'm really hoping for materials improvements across the board on the next 13" MBP. I haven't had that many issues with the keyboard, though do find it a little loud. However, I find that the aluminum scratches too easily, gets stained quickly, and the screen coating is very vulnerable to damage from both the keyboard pressing against it and just bout anything touching it. Likewise, while I happen to have only been using it exclusively as a portable laptop with not much plugged into it, the thought of trying to plug this into the wall, a monitor, and an external HD at the same time is infuriating. Even if I had a USB-C to displayport connector, I'd be out of ports. Couldn't even plug in a Logitech wireless mouse at the same time. It's pretty upsetting that I spent so much money and have more constraints than I did before.
You've pretty much summed up where I am with my 2017 13" MBP. It was a huge purchase for me and I felt it was an investment at the time (I'm spending a few years learning coding skills having been made redundant), but having had to have the screen replaced because of keybaord damage, and having ugly-looking wear around the thunderbolt ports - all of this on a laptop that I treat very well, and which had had a hardshell case since day one and always travels in a padded slip case - I can't say I'm impressed at all.
If it really was a 'pro' piece of kit, I wouldn't need to put a sheet of A4 paper between the screen and keyboard to avoid the glass getting damaged every time I shut it (it's now out of Apple Care warranty, and another screen would be £500). I actually like the feel of the keyboard (although it is noisy), and I love the trackpad - anything else feels like a cheap toy in comparison now.
I've needed on occasion to use it with external hardware - soundcard, dongle for Cubase, USB memory, etc., and it's a messy pain. I also have a 2010 15" MBP I was recently gifted, and it's better overall because it's solid, reliable and has lots of ports, and doesn't need to be treated with kid gloves. Yes, it has the procesing power of a ZX Spectrum in comparison to the 2017, but I can live with that. It's become my travelling laptop instead of the 2017 because it's not a hothouse flower.
I don't know if this trend was solely Jony Ive's, but I sincerely hope they will make actual 'Pro' machines in the future.
However, I shall not be buying one. This cost me a fortune (twice as much as any laptop I've bought in the past), and it's once bitten, twice shy, I'm afraid.
