Exactly! For myself, if I were to purchase an M1-based Mac now, I would NEED a Thunderbolt 4 "hub" with various ports on it. That's because I still have a USB Mouse from Logitech, an external USB-connected SSD for my backups, and my new Samsung T7 external 1 TB USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 SSD, And that is what I would need to BUY.
M1 Macs have two USB 3.0 ports which should take care of your Logitech mouse and backup drive, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports so you can connect your Samsung T7 and still have one to spare and you would have no need for any other external USB or Thunderbolt port or hub.
I am using USB and Thunderbolt hubs because my system is a bit more elaborate than yours. I generally have four to six USB 3.0 (≤5 Gbps) devices and slots for up to seven more via two USB 3.0 hubs to the two USB 3.0 ports on the M1 Mac mini. I also have four USB 3.1 Gen 2 (a.k.a. USB 3.2) 10 Gbps devices connected to a USB 3.1 Gen 2 hub (which was not easy to find) connected to the USB 3.2 port on
this Thunderbolt 4 hub which in turn connects to one of the two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the M1, and testing shows all are performing at full speed 😎. The Thunderbolt 4 hub also connects a Thunderbolt 3 monitor (40 Gbps), a Thunderbolt 3 SSD (40 Gbps), and a Thunderbolt 2 RAID array (20 Gbps) all operating at their full rated data throughput. The second Thunderbolt 4 port on the M1 connects a single Thunderbolt 3 SSD which is the only way I have been able to successfully create a
bootable external SSD 🤷â€â™‚ï¸ and I haven't even mentioned the possibilities for multiple displays or Bluetooth devices.
The point is between the built-in USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 ports on M1 Macs there is enormous flexibility to adapt to each user's current and changing future needs and/or desires and that still leaves the HDMI port and bluetooth connections.
Marketing. Marketing. Marketing. ("Marcia. Marcia. Marcia.")
Actual need OR the illusion of need? Often it can be hard to tell the difference.
If my computer configuration sounds bad, you should see my workshop.