Well, after the VGA we got DVI, there is HDMI, display port, mini display port, and I probably forgot some.

All the time, VGA (and headphones jacks) just work. It is not the most brilliant solution, but it works.

I don't know the details, but some combinations, I think going from HDMI on a MacBook to DVI actually don't work. I guess due to HDCP getting in the way.

About adaptors, nice if you use the laptop only on your desktop. In the field I managed to break a thunderbolt to ethernet dongle and it also took out a thunderbolt port on the MacBook. It used to be that only a cheap RJ45 patch cable would get old. You toss it in the bin and get a new one. I guess that's progress.