Could you consider making a bucket-wheel excavator available for our mining operations?
In theory, the BWE could function like a "reverse" Stacker Tower.
Regarding material sorting, the simplest method might be to use U-shape sorters or, perhaps, something more elaborate such as multiple exits at the initial installation point.

I like this idea

Yeah, I like this idea too. A truckless, conveyor-based mining machine, optimized for cutting down mountains. I would expect this machine to be unable to make/traverse ramps, and therefore most useful in mountain deposits... or in terrain leveling/mountain removal.

A great idea, this is exactly what would ideally fit into the T4 segment of mining equipment and would be ideally integrated into the overall concept of the game, since actually mining deposits step by step is very realistic. However, multi-bucket rotary excavators are still on their own and are capable of going down and up some slopes.

I like this idea as well. A practical way to implement it could be to require the large sorting plant to have belt inputs, allowing it to connect directly to the excavator through a conveyor system.

The excavator could still be movable under its own power, but only when no belt is attached. To relocate it, the player would temporarily cut or disconnect the belt, move the excavator to a new valid location with a clear path, and then reconnect it to the belt once it is in position.

This would make excavator placement more strategic without making it overly restrictive. It would also add a useful logistical step, since players would need to plan belt routing, terrain access, and the placement of sorting plants.

Another factor to consider is power demand. Large earth-moving equipment requires a significant amount of MW to move and operate, making it feel like major industrial machinery rather than a simple mobile vehicle.