THIS is Why I Bought a #Framework Laptop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAYKlKyv6tI
tl;dw: upgrade #Framework13 laptop, slap old motherboard - which fully supports this - in a 3D printed case, and do any number of things with it
entertainment PC, mini desktop, blade server in a cluster, NAS with 6x SATA HDD ... take your pick!
maybe that high up-front cost isn't quite so bad after all?