Well, we know that the simple fact of observing an event changes it (see the Double Slit experiment), so consciousness has to have some kind of link to reality itself, no?

I think you might be misunderstanding what “observation” means in that context.

Wikipedia: Observer Effect

In physics, the observer effect is the disturbance of an observed system by the act of observation. This is often the result of utilizing instruments that, by necessity, alter the state of what they measure in some manner.

They’ve had it for a while

USB-C isn’t magic. The length and type of the cable can severely affect its reliability (as Mac users have been painfully aware of since 2016). I don’t trust anything less than a 100W, short (0.5m or less) Thunderbolt 3 cable if I want anything more than USB 2.0 speeds or basic charging.

edit: I’m aware this is a rather extreme superstition, but I’ve been already spent too much time messing with cables

Classic iPod or mp3 player? Also, the “Music” app on iOS still works like iTunes. You can load albums directly from your computer, even without an Apple Music subscription. Or you could get a Walkman.