1) I use PS2 on my keyboard for N-key rollover.
2) Thunderbolt is great for hi-throughput external devices and can daisychain.
3) Why? It doesn't need it on X99.
4) Thunderbolt can be used as ethernet port with adapter, if it's anything like the Mac version.
5) Yeah I guess that's valid but a vert 24pin can show off your braided cabling.
Entitled to your opinion and its good to give it but I will add a little more of mines.
1) USB KB's have rollover also.
2) It has not taken off on PC's as much as MAC so see no real need with USB 3.0 or keep space for another port.
3) Z68 was hottest ICH I had (Vortex review states so also), skipped Z77, Z87 cooler but still cooler with a Heatpipe and the Asus X99 Deluxe has one so X99 not needing it is not really valid.
4) I doubt it can be Teamed to the other Intel NIC and I do not want to buy/use adapters.
5) I do not like those single strand modern modded cables that look like old EIDE cables, and its easier and neater on normal cables.
Asus have a habit of adding something (that peeps like) then taking a step backwards and even the Asus JJ guy on YouTube says that for some of the ports like video ports that were said to not be needed on top mobos (as peeps will have a proper GPU) but now are added to many.
No such issue to this Mobo as no IGPU.