Is there an actual, reliable way to exchange bitcoin for cash in hand? My best guess would be a P2P transaction in person, but that's quite unlikely.
Cash in hand? So it means physical transaction.
There's no way to choose a P2P in a personal transaction or in a Bitcoin ATM machine. These are your primary option.
This also depends on where place you are located, it might in your place Bitcoin was accepted in many department stores, and you can exchange your Bitcoin or ask the business owner.
But in online payment transactions, there are a bunch of DEXs or P2P exchanges that don't ask for KYC.
It's already provided above.