The difference is with a sock I need to consciously put it in and take it out. Getting a text message with the phone at an angle so I can read it doesn’t matter to me because I still need to pick it up and carefully line it back down to respond.

Yes it takes less than a second but you know what’s even more effortless? A wireless charging mat that I can just set my phone onto.

Not sure what’s so hard to understand about this.

If we are splitting hairs over 'a second' and 'effortless' (when effortless still means you've got to make sure it's nicely lined up, if we're talking about actual products here), then surely some kind of in trouser charger is even better. Why should I spend seconds rifling through my pocket, to find my phone to charge it?

With a dock you can see if the message is even worth responding to. I don't need to respond to that text from my bank, and I don't have to waste multiple seconds picking my phone up to discover that.

A charging mat goes on a flat surface that ends up attracting clutter. A dock with phone in doesn't, so when my phone does beep, I don't have to go rifling under paperwork to find it.

So to me a charging mat doesn't seem like the obvious slam dunk you seem to think it is.

You know they make wireless chargers in angled form factors, right? Here's one I used to use when I had a Qi compatible Samsung. Also you don't have to do any aligning. If the phone is not falling out of the charger, then it's in the sweet spot.

https://www.tylt.com/vu-wireless-charger

I can’t use it on a wireless charger. That kills the only use case where I might actually need to charge the device during the day. Playing movies while sick.

Any point where I can’t just charge at night in normal useage means a larger battery is going to win over easier charging.