Windows has been surprisingly good about this (lid closed, laptop awake). I have a number of always-closed laptops deployed for customers (+ mother in law). Some are desktops that can be easily moved; others are on-prem devices that are left alone to handle certain tasks.
This isn't my first reading about the struggles MacBook users have here. It is bizarre to me that Apple doesn't natively and reliably support closed+awake devices; it feels like they've dug in their heels and I can't imagine why.
Windows is so good at this that it refuses to let my work laptop sleep when I close it and put it in my backpack no matter how many settings I try tweaking.
For the desk setup scenario, it's less of a problem since they'll stay awake in clamshell if they've got a power source and are hooked up to an external monitor. I've used my personal MacBook in a hybrid home/work setup like this for years without issue. It's only if you want clamshell on battery and/or with no external monitor that tools like this become necessary.