You can also quickly swipe over the volume button in either direction to increase/decrease the volume, works for brightness as well. Personally I don't have a

You can also quickly swipe over the volume button in either direction to increase/decrease the volume, works for brightness as well. Personally I don't have a terrible aversion to the touchbar, but my biggest gripe is that my right hand naturally rests in a position that randomly presses the mute button.