Discord might be an alternative for team/friend based conversations. They have group calling (don't need to share a server) now. Problem is that it's marketed towards gamers and so might not be fit for purpose for business purposes
To hazard a guess, 70% is the maximum grade (which I've been told isn't that good in US standards, so just saying "I've got 86%" - which is a very good grade, might get looked at the wrong way by a US company.
This article is behind a paywall. Previous HN commenters have pointed out that you can get the full text of the article if Google is your referrer. (I.E. you google the article title and click on the result).
I got a basic cherry board, and the USB connection in the back broke after about a month's use. I take it with me with my laptop - which could explain the additional wear and tear, but I've not been doing anything other than typing and removing the cable when moving the laptop - I can't say I'm impressed with the life. (YMMV, of course)
"my neighbors spending most of their days driving to a job that I know pays them less than they need to feed their kids"
This doesn't sound like someone who has access to all luxuries in the world.