Re "expansion" -- the tbolt port on the back of my mini is faster and will accomodate up to like eight total peripherals. (all concurrently connected to this one machine) -- PCI slots are now two standards back in terms of internal computer expansion, and although they still get used sometimes, I'm imagining it's not as common anymore, and it's to add old standards back into new computers.

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That was my point, you're using the tbolt for peripherals, the "old school" PCI Expansion slot on my NetTop boardlet can drive a nice Second Display or be used for an existing Pro-Level Sound Card or something as mundane as a different NIC technology or HDMI/MultiMedia.

I haven't read up on tbolt, is it used for monitors?

By the time the 17" CRT became the basic "Business Monitor" in the Mid-nineties, desktops were already in slimline cases with risers for the slots. This kept the CRT Monitor or smallish LCD's center at a relatively ergonomic height.