I agree with you, Ivy. The 2016 MBP could have, and should have IMO, been a stepping stone device. The left side could have had 2 USB-C sockets, while the right could have retained SD, USB-A, HDMI and headphone/optical. The MagSafe could also have been retained, but it wouldn't have been a big deal to junk it, given that charging can take place via the Lightning port.
I think the driving force was an ever-slimmer laptop, and to achieve that, the USB-A had to go. Apple have placed themselves in a position where they have to supply 2 of everything, and placed consumers in the position of having to shell out for them.
It's never a good feeling, being on the wrong side of history. All I know is that if I had gone with Apple years ago, I would have saved a fortune.
Your claim of "hugely inflated prices" bears investigation. By far the biggest component of the price of an MBP is the UK government's massive 20% VAT, which is totally out of Apple's control. The devaluation in the GBP since Brexit is another factor. The pound is worth 80% of what it was prior to the referendum, and Apple's recent price rise didn't even take that fully into account. To make matters worse, VAT is applied to the price rise, so the claims that Apple had raised prices by up to GBP500 are wrong. It was 400+VAT.
Apple products are still cheaper in the UK than in the US, when tax is left out and prices are worked out in a common currency. Comparing prices with Windows laptops shows that Apple are not outrageous in their pricing (unless, of course, Dell and HP et al are also guilty). Have a look at some other aspects of Apple - OS, free. Pages, Numbers and Keynote, usually free. Then compare the cost of Windows and MS Office.
New users of Apple equipment are going to be the winners. If our wish list had been met, these people probably would be asking why Apple kept all of these useless legacy ports. People are going to see things through their own filters, and that's good. Companies supplying consumer goods need to be aware of what their customer base requires, and who that customer base is. Sales of MBP indicate that however Apple arrive at their information it's probably accurate. It's all Jobs could have wanted, whether he agreed with drastic changes or not.