One option is to remove SD card, and offer models with internal storage from 128GB to 512 GB (or even 1TB).
The 128GB one will be $399, while the most expensive one can be $699
Just like what the smart phone industry has done years ago.
Certainly don't want that removed, especially if Drake is BC with Switch games. But with that in mind....
Drake has hardware file decompression, so that makes it that much more important to have fast storage mediums. Steam Deck and other handheld PCs have no problem with having microSD slots because they are bottlenecked by the CPU having to decompress game assets. We're already thinking about the possibility of eUFS used for internal storage, but what about external storage? If physical games don't require installation, then those would need to have a boost in transfer speeds, and that would definitely raise the price. How much? Don't know. What about external rewritable media? There's UFS cards, but are those even being produced anymore?
I get the feeling that Drake is going to require mandatory installation to internal storage, simply because the pricing and availability of external media to prevent the need for that is just not going to be available. I know there's others like (micro)SD Express, but unless I'm mistaken, those have various problems associated with them. So, if it would require mandatory installation, then two things need to come into play. First being that internal storage needs to be of a decent size. I'd say no less than 256GB, considering Drake is going to get games like CoD. Second is that Drake games should be installable (but not runnable) on microSD, making it available to copy to internal. Similar to PS5 and Series using ext HDDs. Heck, in this case, allow an ext HDD hooked up to the dock for holding those games to, to which then you could transfer to either internal or microSD. Allow that with both Drake and Switch games (but obviously no game can run on an ext HDD).
I did have one other idea, and that would be proprietary storage. My thought on the form factor is like a battery + cover together, but it's storage. Imagine that Drake has an empty compartment on the back, with a cover that is held on by a screw on one side, and hooks on the other. You remove the screw, and tilt the cover off to remove it completely. The storage module fits into this compartment, and has its own hooks and slot for the screw. You tilt the module in, push it in so it is flat, and screw it closed. I had thought about a clip like what battery covers have, but those clips might be too long, and it could break. The module is exposed on the opposite side of the cover to allow touching against a heat-dissipating solution, if needed. It would be for adding more storage on top of what is already internal, though I guess this setup could also be used to replace the existing storage.