I have an alarm clock / noise machine combo and I love it. I prefer a phone-free bedroom to reduce distraction opportunities. I also completely agree that phone wake-up sounds are just far too aggressive. All it takes for me to wake up is having it change from “brown noise” to “ocean waves” and I’m awake immediately.

I think this was addressed explicitly on TNG even! IIRC there was an episode where a kid has ptsd thinking he caused his ship to wreck. It comes out that while the ship was shaking he pressed his forearm up against the panel for balance. One of the enterprise crew tells him at the climax he couldn’t have messed anything up because he’s not crew or something