I am aware this is a known issue and there is a workaround here: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2086551
Let's be honest, the real issue is the guest operating system (rightfully) accesses the virtual sound device, but if the host OS is missing an input or output device (missing a mic is common in many people's physical setup), workstation doesn't know how to deal with it and throws an "out of range" error.
Workstation is a desktop virtualization product that should provide a robust virtual sound device to the guest. When it can't find an input or output device in the host, the developers have the programming power to make it record from / play to null stream. (They can even make a virtual host sound card that let you play audio to it from the host or let you record from it, but I doubt the developers have the time to make it so fancy)
Given this bug has been around since forever, can we have a software fix instead of asking everyone to use the "enable Stereo Mix" workaround?
Related discussion:
VMWare Workstation 14 Windows 10 host Ubuntu 16.04 guest sound card disconnects at start. (2018-08-22)
[SOLUTION] Virtual Sound Card Fix for VMware Workstation Running on Windows 7/8 Host with Linux Gues... (2013-11-16)
Sound Card for Guest - No Longer Going Grey at Guest Boot (2012-06-20)
The default sound device cannot be opened: A device ID has been used that is out of range for your s... (2011-02-24)
I don't know if there is any VMWare developer here that can add this to their bugfix backlog.
