Right - it solves the compactness problem but introduces new ones. That said, from what I've seen of other people's modular setups, keeping them from growing without bound does not seem to be the highest priority in that world.

I'd also have to wonder how well a jack would hold up under regular use as a bushing. It's very common for engineers with little exposure to the connector industry (not my background either, but I read the data sheets and app notes) to underestimate how highly engineered and optimized for their use case even decades-old connector types are.

It would be nice to have something like the NKK display pushbuttons in the knob for a rotary encoder/pushbutton.

>After 5 or 10 years' worth of tinkering, it might actually synthesize some sounds.

Yeah.