Depending on situation, the way NUCs typically needed external power bricks also made them less attractive. Mac minis aren't as small no, but the size difference for having the PSU be internal is minimal and it eases power strip woes.

Price aside, the power brick was always a huge annoyance that kept me from getting one. Now that usbc gan chargers can hit 100W, I keep hoping for a mini pc option that runs a ~65W class CPU with integrated GPU on a non proprietary charger.

That exists and is common, e.g. the usual chinese brands (minisforum, beelink,....) have usb c pd in.

This would be incredible. Multiple USB-C ports would be nice as well.

Is there a mac mini model that hits a sweet spot on price and performance? I’d love to run a little cluster of mac minis. Maybe one of the intel ones so you could just throw on linux and something like slurm or pbs?

Not when I cannot customize it like PC NUCs.

Zero expandability makes it a nope for me.