Pretty sure the majority use are people in cubicles with the machines connected to external peripherals and closed.

This is a great demonstration of the inadequacies of anecdata. No, I am pretty sure the _majority_ of MBP users do not in fact use it with the screen closed, connected to external devices, in cubicles. If you're going to do that, why even have a laptop?

I don't doubt your observation - I merely point out that you are in a bubble. The vast majority of MBP users I have observed use it open. As you would expect.

I've actually never seen anyone use a MacBook with it closed.

For a start you've lost a useful screen. And the thermal performance must be awful.

The exhaust on MBPs is positioned such that it blows out the bottom of the screen’s hinge when closed.

I have two 27” monitors in my office, and using the MBP’s screen just does not feel useful to me... and yes, I have tried using it on more than one occasion.

Anecdotally this is very wrong.

I work remote and don’t have an external monitor a lot of time.

When I do my laptop stays open as a secondary screen.

When I’m at HQ most people have the setup above.

My wife has no external monitor. My entire non tech friend group has pros and don’t use them connected to any peripherals.

That describes my office.

Primary display is a 27” or 32” 4k monitor w/ standing desks.

Most hate the butterfly keyboard. Lots of mechanical USBs.

Some like the touchbar. Not our blind developer.

I think of them as Mac Minis, before the recent line upgrade.

Exactly. I’m pretty sure the most common Mac OS user is still in media or marketing. People who demand the fanciest, largest displays and printers. They’re not going to tie themselves down to a laptop display unless that’s just how things are done there.

> I’m pretty sure the most common Mac OS user is still in media or marketing.

I see hardly ever see any developer using anything other than macOS (it's not called 'Mac OS'). I don't think the majority are in some niche like marketing or media.

Not everyone can afford a Mac: I suspect the people you see are skewed towards the relatively well-off.

They normally get them provided by their employer.

It also is not comfortable, nor ergonomic (using the laptop without external peripherals).

My company has over 200 of them, and it's rare to see one closed, so your dead wrong. I drive 2 27" 4K screens with mine, and leave the laptop open as a third screen.

Anecdata, I know, but upwards of 75% of the people I've worked with in the last 5 year who used Mac laptops either used them standalone or with a monitor as a second screen.

And I’ve worked at places where everyone above a certain pay grade or closeness to the C-levels gets Mac pros and the nicest displays x2-3. I’m sure there are more corporate machines out there than home use because that’s where the money is in IT. Edit-though I could be wrong.

MacBook Pro≠Mac Pro.