Everyone is different when it comes to what works best for them so I certainly understand if an iPad/iOS isn’t for you, but I have found it to be an extremely flexible do it all device for me. Some aspects I find better are performance, battery life, overall costs, zero upkeep, app selection, portability, collaboration, updates, and overall simplicity. On top of that, it’s the best consumption device I have used and I like having just two devices that operate the exact same way. Adding mouse/trackpad support would be great for certain productivity apps, but it wouldn’t make it like a Mac to me, just a more advanced iPad. I see the future as much brighter for iOS and the iPad than I do macOS and the Mac so I am happy to adopt my workflows now and allow for a better level of flexibility in my position than I had with the Mac.
I can accept all that is the case for you.
But I still don't
understand.
That is, besides the point you made of having 2 devices that behave the same way (which is a STRONG point), the iPad's size (particularly the mini) and drawing on it, of course? I CAN see that these 3 alone could be enough for many (most?) people. Does that sum it up for you?
What
specifically are you doing with the iPad that you cannot on the Mac?
For example (These are merely my judgement-free observations in comparing the 2 device categories):
1. The MacBooks come with a screen-stand built in. You have to add it to use the iPad the same way, otherwise, you either have to hold it up, set it down flat and look down to it, or prop it up with something. I often watch videos in bed, laying face down with my MBP in front of me. This was impossible with an iPad. Navigating websites requires way more work on an iPad too. My arm doesn't need to move and it is a lot less travel for my fingers on the trackpad than on the huge iPad touchscreens. The iPad is mainly a two-handed device.
2. The MacBooks come with a keyboard built in. Adding it to the iPad makes it more cumbersome than a MB, you have to jump through (admittedly easy) hoops to get it to pair, you have to charge it separately (I think), it may not feel as good (although the likability of the KBs on MBs is arguable at best). I do see the advantage of detaching it when not needed, though.
3. The Mac trackpad offers far, far more precision than iOS touch input (because you have a cursor that doesn't block your vision), with ALL the multitouch benefits.
4. Connectivity is superior on the Macs. More ports, and much more flexible and powerful.
5. The A-series chips are powerful, but not i7-i9 powerful...yet.
6. I find Mobile websites far inferior to desktop ones, at least today.
All that said, I often wish Apple would do an iBook as an iOS-based 2-in-1. It could address most of the items above, I think, while keeping the user experience even closer to that of the iPhone.
