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I actually imagine a miniature artists easel being the stand so that I can put it the same height and angle to the MBP screen.
I use the Compass stand by Twelve South with my iPad Pro. Works great. Good in the kitchen too. I just wish the angle was a little bit steeper.
They have an eBay store where they sell refurbished ones, so I went for the first version at a fraction of the pretty pricey retail.
Fyoosh-
Steeper angle and the base of iPad a few inches higher is what I would like.
When I have the MBP on a stand, how to get the iPad Pro in landscape at the same height next to it.
I do like the look of that Twelve South stand though... it definitely plays into something else I'm enjoying that I have achieved unintentionally... my entire work environment of laptop, keyboard, camera, microphone, hub, desktop speakers, everything... can fit in a single holdall bag and I can create this setup in any hotel room or apartment in the world in about 10 minutes.
Velocio
Yeah, I'm trying to get the camera as close to my eye level and direction as possible when I'm in a video call and looking at someone else. It makes a huge difference on their experience, whether they think I'm engaged and listening to them.
I think the best way to do 2nd displays is to only ever do video calls on the smaller display with the camera either integrated or placed as close to the screen as possible.
Further, I think that looking at documents, etc should require a noticeable turn of the head, or to look down or up... outside of the direction of view of the person in video conference. Precisely so that the times at which you do check documents, graphs, data during a call have their place, and that when I'm looking in their direction they know I really am focused on them and no-one and nothing else.
Video conferencing is a user experience problem, the user is the remote viewer and it's up to us to shape their experience.
This is also why I don't wish the 2nd monitor to dominate the experience I have... for then I make the remote person secondary. So my MBP screen will stay my primary and be in the most comfortable position for me, and a second display won't be significantly larger and will require me to turn my head... it will be the second display.
I still like the thought of the iPad Pro 11/12.9 for this. I'd spend £1k on a second display made by Apple and matching the size, colours and experience of the MBP display. i.e. change the brightness on the MBP and it adjusts both, drag a photo from one display to the other and the colours remain the same, text is equally readable in both, etc. The annoying thing about the iPad is that once you're £1k in, it seems obvious to upgrade the specs to make it capable by itself, and then it's no longer £1k, throw the pencil in and it's really increased.
But as the iPad Pro is an IPS True Tone display of almost identical spec to the MBP this is probably what I will buy once I quit dithering over the decision. The only difference is in brightness 500 nits vs 600 nits. I actually imagine a miniature artists easel being the stand so that I can put it the same height and angle to the MBP screen.