Yes, a riser card is a godsend (i remember the days when such a thing didn't exist!).
I understand the cons associated with suboptimal case cooling and other restrictions when trying to build a high performance machine in a tiny case. Weighing the pros/cons, i am willing to put up with it due to work travel. In non-covid times, i need to travel for work and i'm stuck in a hotel room every month for 7 to 10 days. Being able to throw a tiny pc in my hand carry and zip through airports is worth the trouble for me. The alternative is to hug the hotel bar till midnight and end up in bed with some headache inducing hag. I'd be a whole lot happier 4k gaming in my room instead. I am too old to a) hug the hotelbar till midnight & b) too old to attract anything attractive.
