Click the link in my post and look at those pictures. Studio (not Mini) rear ports are left, front ports are right, top does have a little bit of space away from the wall. Vents not blocked.
I could have set it up the other way with rear ports right, front ports left but chose that option to better hide the wires, as I need little access to the ports after initially setting them up. As is, the 2 front ports plus card slot are easiest access for me when I do need to directly connect something.
I use an ancient, slim monitor stand underneath a monitor which comes with several USB 2.0 ports and I chose a (not Apple)
monitor with MANY jacks as a hub built into it. 2 key ones are USB C and USB A on the underside of the screen (very easy access). I also use Apple's wired keyboard which gives me two more USB ports for easy connections too.
I wired in a
second monitor stand to the Studio and have it sitting off to the right, functioning as basically a shelf for other stuff. A few accessories tuck under it where a keyboard might go if used as intended and then a few things on top as if it is a pure shelf. The right side of it gives me 3 more very easy access high-speed USB ports. Now there's variations of that kind of stand with many more ports, even faster standards, and a variety of ports available (ethernet, C, etc). I favor this over a hub mostly because I wanted a 2-tier shelf-like setup, and I already have a few other things with a good number of free USB ports.
As a result of all these very handy connections, I just about never need to touch the ones on the Studio, so it just hangs back there being my invisible Mac.