This is worth the price, do not listen to the complainers.
I bought a Switch at launch and thought that the dock could be improved. The most common issues being:
1.) It looks big and kind of clunky, a little cheap and plastic, lacking in stellar industrial design or elegance
2.) It CAN scratch your screen if it's warped and/or you are careless--careless or not, I still think this is a valid concern
3.) As mentioned above, the dock can be warped and if that's the case then you should return it but this isn't cool when you're paying $300 for the console or $90 for the dock kit
So after a few months, I ordered a replacement shell to convert my existing Switch dock into a much smaller one. Here's a link to a similar replacement shell--please be aware that this is a plastic shell only and does not include the necessary circuitry or electronics to function as a dock, you must open your existing Switch dock and transplant the circuit board into this shell: https://www.amazon.com/LinkStyle-Nintendo-Switch-Replacement-Portable-Original/dp/B0759CH5Q3/ref=pd_sim_107_67?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=T4E625EY9PJ2N6EKBN28
What I found was that the smaller dock doesn't provide quite as much support on for the console which can cause it to rock side to side a bit. That is not good for the longevity of the USB type-c port on the Switch. The standard Switch dock runs the entire length of the Switch from the left edge of the screen to the right edge of the screen so the whole bottom edge of the Switch is supported by the dock. The Switch cannot pivot on the USB port which is a super good thing because there's no unnecessary movement and that means that the device will last longer!
These portable docks are also very lightweight and will slide all around on your tabletop surface. I had to buy adhesive rubber feet to get my portable dock to stay in place and even then I found that the thickness of an HDMI cable plus the other cables you'll need can still cause the dock to move around the table and otherwise not be totally stable with and especially without a Switch docked on it.
After living with the portable dock for a while I found myself yearning for the standard dock look and feel. While I still feel that the standard Nintendo Switch Dock could stand to be redesigned from the ground up with more care and thought put into how it looks, operates, and what materials it's made of, there's no denying that the standard dock still looks and works the best out of any available dock solution at the moment.
A lot of folks complain about the $90 price tag, and while nearly $100 is certainly no small amount of money, what you get in this kit makes it a fair value at least, if not a good one. What I mean is that a comparable piece of electronics is the same price if not more. A USB type-C dock with 4 USB ports, HDMI out, and USB power delivery (this is a very specific thing that not many devices and USB cables actually support). These devices can range from $35 (for poor-quality devices) to more than $70 (for high-quality devices) and that's without a power supply and HDMI cable. I know, HDMI cables are virtually a dime a dozen, but the inclusion--I think--is notable if not unremarkable. The standalone Switch charger from Nintendo is $30. That puts the individual pieces at, let's say, $50 for a USB-C hub, $30 for the charger, and $10 for the HDMI cable to match the price of the standard dock kit here.
No, at the end of the day, an HDMI cable isn't worth $10 dollars so I can see where people might be uneasy about the $90 value proposition here but, like I said earlier, the value is at least fair but, in my opinion, good for now considering the limited number and lacking overall quality of the alternatives on the market.
When either Nintendo or another company decide to drastically and intelligently redesign the dock for better looks and action then there may finally be some competition but for now, this is the best option available by a longshot and it costs exactly as much as it ought to when compared to the price of similar devices.
If you're looking for a second or replacement Nintendo Switch dock, this is the one to buy until a truly great dock comes around.
Josh Frazee
Scott Pearce
Charlie Davis
Beebeepuf
withanHdammit