longpath
While I could see the possible utility of some things that can be checked without unfolding it (perhaps a partial screen on one half of the outside & MagSafe on the other half of the outside) as a means of achieving the small pocket size that the minis and models prior to the 6 had, while allowing more screen when desired. That being said, it seems to me that in addition to the mechanical weak point a hinge introduces, there’s the difficulty of keeping hermetic seals on a design that folds 180 degrees. The limited water resistance of current models isn’t a feature I’d be amenable to losing. Indeed, I hope Apple will continue to improve upon existing water resistance.