I haven't used a laptop in about 15 years and that's fine with me. I don't need more than that. I expect my 512GB M4 iPad to serve me well for years. If your use case is more in need of the flexibility of a laptop then go for it.It's an observation, not an insult. An observation that is pointed and perhaps slightly hyperbolic, but not without reason.
Every iPad to date is a severely compromised "solution" that does nothing as well as every device it purports to replace. I'm not so naïve as to expect a corporation to leave money on the table due to some principled stance, but the iPad has always struck me as Apple's most egregious F-U to consumers, especially since the later A-series up through the current M-series: literally all the power of fully-fledged notebook but completely arbitrarily hampered.
To be clear: I am not a hater. I am a fan of Apple's hardware. I've given them thousands of my personal dollars for Macs and iPhones (going back to the 4), while also directing thousands more their way through my jobs. I've (usually willingly, occasionally begrudgingly) accepted the limitations they impose on their mobile devices in return for a (generally) smooth user experience, better security/privacy, and having actual customer service. I have owned Windows and Android devices for when factors demanded it (cost, unacceptable limitations, superior solution for a given need, etc.) I have/do own(ed) those concurrently.
But I simply cannot view the iPad in it's current form as a reasonable compromise. That they see extended use lives still doesn't change the fact that they were most likely an unnecessary purchase to begin with, justified with mental gymnastics like most disposable electronics—which now Apple has turned its notebooks into sadly, despite having one of the most truly exceptional advancements in processor architecture/platforms in recent history.
IMHO your post came of as condescending. Loosen up.