No, I listed 3 cables. No adapters. E.g. I had 3-4 external hard disks with the "micro USB to USB" style cable (1). I bought micro-USB to USB-C. No adapter needed (if there's any circuity inside the cable, it was there in the micro-USB to USB cable too, which is even more bulky).
Similar, I sometimes connect to an external audio interface, which has a USB B type cable (2). I bought a USB B to USB-C and am done.
Finally, I had a HDMI to HDMI cable on my old MBP. I went out and bought a USB-C to HDMI cable and just use that.
I don't need a dongle or multi-port adapter to plug the old cables in. I just replaced the old cables.
(1) https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81w%2By3Rwq...
(2) https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/a2KtBcVnreIJ_5hunhd6Ul9UOng=/7...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/USB-B-57c73e773df78c71b614733e.jpg){kind=link}
Otherwise the USB-C to A + USB-C to HDMI is one adapter if you get Apple's version. So maximum one adapter is required here.
For my external audio interface (I do computer music).
It's also common in MIDI controller keyboards -- USB from the computer to USB B on the keyboard (though I have mine setup with BT MIDI).
But also many printers use one, especially older ones.
With my 2012 MBP, I don't need to buy extra cables for each device I have. I just use the standard cable that's included. Or the one that the conference room already has. HDMI for displays (or DP), USB for a keyboard or mouse, etc.
When all you have is the USB-C port, it's now your own responsibility to carry a cable for each situation.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think it's all that big of a deal. But I understand where complainers are coming from.
For those type of "foreign environment" (e.g. not your house or office) where you don't know what you'll meet, a single USB-C to HDMI and USB 3.0 adapter, which weights next to nothing, and is sold by Apple and many third parties (down to $10-$20) will do.
https://www.amazon.com/Pass-Through-Multiport-Supports-Throu...
I think the frustration dongle-haters feel is that Apple puts so much effort into slimming down their laptops, only to ruin it with the need to pack extra stuff. If the computer was just a few mm thicker, it would have better battery life, room for some USB-A ports, HDMI port, etc. And the backpack wouldn't need to have the dongle or extra cables in there.
Again, this is mostly academic for me. The only dongle I've ever had to use is a TB-to-GigEth one. But I was pissed the one time I forgot it and became the only person in the room unable to get on the network. Wi-Fi is way more common now, so that's not a hazard. But the other ports (USB-A, HDMI, etc.) are still in wide use, whereas USB-C is still a mishmash of incompatible cables, protocols, and connector types.
A few years from now, this whole argument will probably (hopefully) be looked at the same way the floppy drive's abandonment was in 1997.
You listed the four adapters you have, then said "no adapters". :) Just because the adapter is more than 3" long doesn't make it something else. You still have to buy it separately and carry it with you. When a machine has more than just one kind of port, you're freed up to use whatever standard cable is already connected to the projector, or came with the hard disk, or was included with your phone.