The built-in Linux VM supports the GPU (you can enable it in chrome:flags), and Linux GUI apps work fine.

ChromeOS with the Linux VM is a surprisingly nice setup, I bought a Thinkpad Duet 3 so I could use Linux apps on a tablet and it seriously has me considering getting a Chromebook for my next laptop. Everything integrates so seamlessly and effortlessly that it does not even seem like a VM other than having to start up the VM. The Chrome keyboard has also really grown on me, even with the small and very cheap keyboard of the Duet 3. Battery life and performance is amazing and touch works completely as expected. Not sure if I can actually make the leap and give up Linux after 20 years of nothing but, but I am considering it.

While I personally want a fan and see it as price to pay for better thermals, the disadvantages aren't just noise.

The most critical issue would be the fans still spinning to cool down the machine when it was sent to sleep. That creates the vicious cycle when bagged right after sleep, where the fan try to lower the temp, but their running in a closed environment warms the confined air, which pushes the fan to run faster yet.

That's the recipe for a hot and dead battery when you take it out of the bag.

I had that with MacBooks and Windows laptops alike.

I guess it's the physical HDMI port that's needed, as Minis and the Pro laptops have working monitor HDMI monitor support?

Take it to a shop which cnc mills the original one off and solders a compatible new one on. Maybe you can desolder the old one, but why bother.

There’s a guy who offers it for a very reasonable fee in USA. I’ve used his services a few times with great success! Email me, I wouldn’t want to post someone else’s contact info publicly.