Even "modern" systems like the Apple M1 and M2 base chips had hardware limits of 1 external monitor, a massive regression from the previous Intel systems.
That was just a blip in the Mac timeline. A year later the M1 Pro came out which supported multiple.
That said, very few people connect multiple external monitors to a laptop
What do you mean? Pretty much everyone at the two places I work at connect 2 monitors to their laptops. Who works using their laptop screen when at their desk?!
Where I work I had to sort of convince everyone that dual 27 inch screens is a really great setup. I think most white collar workers with a laptop get used to the laptop keyboard and trackpad and think its weird to dock it and use a regular keyboard and mouse. That is... until they try it.
Maybe I've had unusual experiences, but every office I've been to has a little laptop stand to put your macbook next to the external display. Unless for some reason you need 3 screens, one external is perfectly fine.
...(it's me, i work on my laptop screen at my desk)