Parents are having a new home built - how should they have it wired?

2 Cat6 drops to each bedroom and common areas where you expect to have TVs....route all to common closet/space for all IT equipment to be stored...use patch panel if you want it nice and pretty...

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2 Cat6 drops to each bedroom and common areas where you expect to have TVs

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You might consider also pre-running cat6 to several locations around the eaves where you may want PoE security cameras. Maybe also run electric out there for christmas lights, additional wifi cams, etc.

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route all to common closet/space for all IT equipment to be stored...use patch panel if you want it nice and pretty...

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And definitely this. Try to locate it as centrally as possible to reduce total cable lengths, and also make sure it has good ventilation.

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You might consider also pre-running cat6 to several locations around the eaves where you may want PoE security cameras.

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This. I really I am kicking myself for not doing this.

The future is wireless mesh networks, not wired connections. Unless your house is divided up by concrete partitions I would just focus on making sure that wherever your main router will reside is wired in a manner that allows for easy upgrades to future Ethernet / fiber optic cable runs from your provider.

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and also make sure it has good ventilation.

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I put a return air vent in my last house. This is much better than a register as it keeps the temp the same as the rest of the house.

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The future is wireless mesh networks, not wired connections. Unless your house is divided up by concrete partitions I would just focus on making sure that wherever your main router will reside is wired in a manner that allows for easy upgrades to future Ethernet / fiber optic cable runs from your provider.

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Sorry, but this is just bad advice. No one will ever wish they had run less cable, but almost everyone wishes they had run more at some point.

Aside from the fact that wireless consistency and reliability will never match wired, physical cable can transmit power as well as data. PoE is incredibly useful already, and it will only become more so in the near future. So really I would not only run cat6 to where I expect to put TVs, cameras, and computers, but I would also run it everywhere there is a light switch or light fixture, and doors & windows. PoE smart lighting, temp/humidity/brightness/presence detection, touchpanels, pervasive sound/mic and bluetooth, powered window blinds, window and door alarm contacts, etc. The list of low power applications goes on and on, and it will only grow larger as we dream up new ideas. Not to mention any of these devices can also serve as a wifi access point, providing wifi coverage that will beat any mesh system hands down.

Yes, the future is about more cable, not less.

I'd personally put conduit with pull strings if possible. That way new runs can easily be pulled in the future if needed.

Are newer homes still running coax to rooms? Should they?

Can someone explain to me why someone would need 2-3 Cat connections per TV and all throughout the house? What are they used for? Yes, I'm being serious. Haha. In my 35 years I've never needed a Cat 5/6 connection.