I was just typing out my reply, but yours is much more detailed anyway, OP this is the correct solution.

I'm in no position to discourage you from building this, but this is a fsr greater project than you're writing it to be. Send me a link to the git repo, so I can tag along and keep updated!

Thanks for the detailed answer, that helps a lot for my understanding.

The project sounds like a lot of work, especially for such a niche application. Do you have a crowd to support this (with time or money) or do you plan pay for this and sell it in the end?

It somehow feels like you put a lot of thought into this already and missed starting from the beginning in this post.

What device do you want to have a USB-C DAC for? What's the actual size limitations and what power do you want to draw that would need a heatsink? Do you have specs in mind, or is there a comparable project already available to look at?

Totally true.

This cable tester is made to help with the issue of bad kr wrongly labelled cables: https://caberqu.com/content/8-ble-caberqu

Sure thing, if that's allowed: 8volt.at

We're doing custom builds for research as well as exhibitions and develop new machines and parts for industry ;)

I did that for almost 15 years, now I'm running a company developing embedded electronics using them daily.

I honestly consider them to be a consumable.

The ones I've used always get splashes of solder, flux and other uncleanable things onto them at some point. If it gets too much, I'll switch to a new one.

A regular USB-C hub would be an idea, but may not work with regular chargers..

That's actually a great video, no-ideal opamp characteristics have caused me a lot of headaches on multiple occasions in the past.