"I'm going to reiterate my long term solution which has been working flawlessly, in case it helps others here. I purchased a 5-drive Synology DS1522+ NAS and loaded it with enough WD Red drives to give me 20+TB of data. One of the software packages that is included, Synology Drive, has local/cloud sync features just like Dropbox, so I can locally sync whatever project I'm working on at the moment for fast speeds, then switch those files back to cloud only when the project is complete to free that space up again. It works just as well as Dropbox. However, I decided to upgrade my network components to 10Gbe so that I can work directly off the NAS, and this gave me around 700MB/s write, 900MB/s read speeds, which is plenty for my personal needs. This entire setup cost me around $1,500, far less than Apple charges for around 1/3 the local storage on a new Macbook Pro. I ALSO pay around $10/month to back up all of my files to iDrive E2 cloud storage, which the Synology NAS does automatically every night, eliminating most risk from using local storage."
While your Synology DS1522+ NAS setup presents a cost-effective solution and appears to meet your personal needs, it's crucial to recognize that such configurations might not be adequate for all professional settings, particularly due to their dependence on external cables which detracts from a seamless experience. For professionals involved in producing and exporting 8K video files, undertaking extensive photo, movie, and music production for clients, or engaging in complex machine learning projects, the superior data transfer speeds 3'000 MB/s offered by Apple's internal storage become indispensable. Furthermore, the simplicity, cohesion, and integrated backup capabilities provided by Apple's ecosystem, notably through TimeMachine (which is free), deliver an unparalleled, hassle-free experience that a NAS setup, with its intricate configuration and reliance on physical connections, simply cannot match. While NAS systems offer notable flexibility and cost-effectiveness, the efficiency, speed, and integration of built-in solutions are paramount for tasks requiring high bandwidth, ensuring optimal productivity and peace of mind for demanding professional endeavors.
When the entirety of your work hinges on data - its accessibility, speed, integrity, and backup - spending an extra $1'500 is a negligible cost. Ensuring the utmost reliability and performance of your data management system is paramount when your livelihood and income(s) depend on it.
