'it looks like the space was used instead for cooling. That "hulking great fan".'
I hope that they have increased the maximum ambient temperature the thing can handle. My current Mac Mini is rated at 32 C. Summer started here not so long ago, earlier this week it hit 34 C on several days. I've seen higher temps. I have to turn off the Mac Mini (and my Asus ROG) on those days. I put a bloody great big fan in my main desktop just for that reason, so at least I still have something I can use on hot days.