The same thing goes for tape measures, screwdrivers, and just about any tool you use to measure or cut stuff. People always say "a tool is a tool" until they try using a cheap one and it costs them twice as much time fixing their mistakes. I've noticed this pattern everywhere, not just with tools. People who have never used a quality version of something just assume the cheap one works the same, but they don't know what they're missing until they try the real deal. Your father in law probably learned that lesson thirty years ago with his Stabila and just doesn't remember how bad the cheap ones really are.

That retractable hub idea sounds cool in theory but I'm with you on the build quality thing. I tried a cheap one from a brand I can't even remember and the USB ports felt loose right out of the box. What actually worked for me was a simple powered USB hub that sits right on my desk. It's just a solid black brick with seven ports, no moving parts to break. I mounted it under my monitor stand with some velcro strips and now I just have one thick cable running to the PC instead of like five separate ones. For power cables I got a flat extension cord that I ran along the edge of the desk, hidden by a cable channel. The only thing still annoying me is my headset cable, which always seems to find its way into my coffee mug.