This is a really good point, and it could also be used to find the 'middle ground' that the author found lacking, between ANC (blocked too much) and transparenc

This is a really good point, and it could also be used to find the 'middle ground' that the author found lacking, between ANC (blocked too much) and transparency mode (didn't block enough). Somewhat relatedly, the accessibility settings for AirPods also allow you to enable ANC when just one AirPod is being used. I don't know why this is in the accessibility settings, but I find it super helpful because it allows me to hear what's going on (with my open ear) and listen to podcasts at a very low volume, thanks to ANC on the single AirPod.