Is it normal that my Nikon D5600 didn't come with a hot-shoe protection cap?

Is it normal that my Nikon D5600 didn't come with a hot-shoe protection cap? - 1

Nikon cameras usually come with the protection cap, but you may have gotten a unit that was a demo unit (could have been shown only once) or returned. I've come across "new" equipment that was obviously returned since items were missing and a memory card of the wrong type was installed.

I've always removed the cap and kept it off since I use the hot shoe often enough.

No!

Brand new? No.
Secondhand, yes.
Does it matter? Nah!

Maybe. Nikon doesn't seal their boxes. You're never sure if it's brand new or not.

Yes.