Hypervisors certainly have virtual switches in them for good reason. Not sure if relevant to connecting networks unless using VNFs, which I do routinely. Very basic configuration is good for those.
Think for most folks a £20 8 port switch is probably a more viable option than a dodgy downloads box with 8 bridged Ethernet ports. For those needing VLANs, RSTP, etc, 8 ports for £40.
Software bridging that comes attached to other hardware is a slightly different thing from something running OpenWRT. WiFi access points depending how complex they are can function as routers and switches. The switches and APs I work with on the daily are pretty smart.
The switches
https://www.arubanetworks.com/resource/aruba-cx-10000-with-pensando-at-a-glance/ and APs
https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/wireless/access-points/ are very clever, and no need to worry about internal bridges in the AP equipment looping, it can't, it's an access node - it sends to RF or an Ethernet port. Loop creation possible only with work to create one and external intervention.
The switches are hardware switching planes with a bunch of intelligence on top. They will not loop on their internal bridges, STP prevents them contributing to external loops.
My own NAS has 4 ports. 3 of them are in an Etherchannel, one is in a DMZ, both routed ports, no bridging required.
The three go to a switch, the DMZ goes to a router. Will build a bridge on there, on the switching hardware, for port density.
This is just how I work. I try and keep as much as I can modular and don't use excess ports on other kit for network functions beyond VNF.
Current switches in use at home are 3 or 4 basic 8 port smart switches, 3 4 SFP+, 1G, with 10G out of each and those serving 8 port GE a 10G port in, a 2 Gb Etherchannel to the switch. 3 core 8 SFP+, 1G ports aggregating the above resiliently and linked themselves in a ring, and a 2 SFP+, 24 GE switch that actually does quite a bit of work and is also in the core ring.
To get to my router from the modem is a 3 switch journey. Router to WiFi AP 3 switches then across an Etherchannel to the AP.
To get to the second AP is a mere one switch journey.
Currently 7 VLANs on there with more to come.
Produces a somewhat convoluted path but works well. I like to keep things as modular as possible. Just my personal preference and despite high device count makes it simple to isolate any routing or switching loop.
APs are on edge ports, only a single Ethernet port active on each. All switches in my snowflake run RSTP if dual uplinked.
Maybe my methods are out of touch. @aesmith?