clunky?
if we use the standard idiot proof USBASP header with 10 pin and the plastic casing there is no means how small the front of the adapter is
really noone wants to make a 10 to 6 adapter cable just to make the programming key 8mm thinner
lower end is 12mm and upper end 22mm right now, this is a lot smaller than my house door security key, no need to make it smaller than this
to give you an idea how small we already are look at the v1.1 size compared to my house key
as you self said the micro Key you can buy is too small for really safe flashing if you dont want to check if it sits right with maginification glass
there is really no need to make it smaller than an average Attiny MCU is just because it is possible with 0.33mm pogo pins heads on 0.5mm tube going to 0.7mm pin distance
we are not going to challenge how small it can be done, who cares if the pin distance is 1.27 or 1,3mm in real life on just 2x3 pin you wont see any difference with pogo pins anyways,
if you really want to buy the “standard 1.27mm” key you can fit it on my programming port with no problems
the additional Pogo pins are totally optional making placement and aligning of the key easier for people who can not solder 0402 or 0603 anymore because of age (Eyes or hands not allowing it anymore)
but you got to have some error margin in placing it on a driver
you ever destroyed a MCU because the SOIC clip or in this case a pogo pin key went off during flashing? No I dont want it as small as possible exactly to avoid this
and on complicated driver designs you are really happy if you can route a trace between things
so if you want to pay 10$ with shipping for a 1$ parts and 2$ labor costs adapter go for it noone is going to stop you bringing your drivers with this port on market