GDPR-2 I'm pleased to see this direction as the wider team recognised it as a long-term support burden some time ago. One of our goals has always been "ease of use" and box installs are inherently more challenging than SBC devices due to multiple "how to make it boot an SD card" methods required - and adding the frequent complexities of internal installation on-top results in a range of box unique issues that tiring to repeatedly solve. It's true that an eMMC install is always going to be fastest, but team testing shows the performance of a good SD card reduces the gain to marginal levels unless the underlying box has inferior components (and crap hardware is always going to be crap hardware). An easier install process results in more people having a positive experience with LE, and thats something we care about more than appeasing the overall small (but increasing) percentage of users who purchase sub-$25 black box junk from far-east bulk buy websites. Caveat Emptor..
It was a feature I never really wanted to include but did so to appease users who wanted it, given the problems it has caused and continues to cause though I have to agree with you.
For the technically minded users they can still install to internal if they so wish but it is not something I will provide support for any further.
I have always run from an sdcard or usb drive and have never had issues with performance then again I don't expect miracles from a $30 box to begin with, if it works then I'm happy.
I have worked with each revision to bring this community release closer to stock LE with the ultimate aim of abandoning community releases in favour of official releases once 9.0 arrives, it's been my goal from the start and continues to remain my goal.