I disagree. And if we want to bring Steve Jobs, let's actually hear what he's been saying. He always wanted to create a computer for the "mere mortals." Thus the focus were on GUI, ease of use, all-in-one, thin-n-light laptops, etc. But even Steve Jobs recognized that things are changing (his truck and cars analogy, did people refuse to admit that he said that?). Today's "computers" for most people are not the laptop or desktop that we use today. For many, they first computer is their smartphone, and Apple bet on mobile to the point that they have the most efficient and powerful mobile SoC. Coupled with that, they ventured into various custom silicons (W1, S2, T1, etc). Steve Jobs himself said, quoting Alan Kay, "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware."
As for margin, healthy margin is needed for a business to be healthy. As I mentioned, Apple is betting on mobile with their own custom silicons. That doesn't come up cheap. Should they be like the rest of manufacturers, just slapping off-the-shelve components and call it a day? Read up Anandtech's review of the Google pixel, it is embarrassing for a phone that is priced the same as the iPhone.
And just because Apple release something expensive, doesn't mean you have to buy it. I don't buy all Apple products. In fact, I usually waited for their Macs to be available on their refurbished site. I simply buy something that I deem fit my needs and budget, and often times it's an Apple product, but often times it's not. My preference and buying decisions does not have to match Apple's clear vision.
A company has to evolve. Look at IBM. The company survived because it recognized that it had to evolve to survive. They daringly ditched their PC making business and remained alive today. If you were a fan of the iBM Thinkpad laptop that time, you would be saying the same doom and gloom.
Nobody will care about the "old" Apple if it's dead.
