Depends. Modern keyboards, mice and controllers use just a few milliamps and the laptop must be able to supply 500 mA. However, just about anything that charges will use the whole 500 mA or even try to negotiate more. There are even non-compliant devices like heating pads that draw 2 A without asking.

Ehhh I deploy a lot of these thin and light machines in place of desktops. The goal is to use a dock and have the IO that is needed at a desk but also have the portability of the small laptop that can do work remotely. The benefit is that you don't have to remote into your work PC.

The only two honest answers would be wartime measures and laziness

Well, 3. "To see if I could."

I've seen that video

Voltage drop is a thing. That’s why powered hubs exist

Yes, but their point is any port in a storm will suffice.

Until voltage sags below 4.7 and stuff starts acting weird or sags below 4.4 and just stops working ig

I'm a power bottom, thanks. It's a little dehumanizing to call people, "hubs".

Funny picture

The Dell I have (few years old; I don't keep up with models) looks very much like a MBA. It works great, and I'm glad it runs Linux well (so far). I'm thinking about moving to CachyOS on my desktop.

I'll look into Asahi project!

Ew. Where?

Asahi is great for putting fedora on the Apple silicon macs. But there are quite a few limitations (e.g. steam won't work) so I would not recommend anyone to buy a mac for linux