If I remember the conversations since 1990 starting with Motorola then Power PC, then Intel, and finally TSMC with the A series and now M series, the APPLE GOAL was complete vertical integration for the Apple product line where they made all of the important chips and could control their destiny and time table. If they crack the cellular modem nut, that will be another major achievement because the rumors are it will also include Bluetooth and other functions that are currently made by other vendors since day one.
They have very deep pockets to be able to do this research and pay for these services.They make, in my opinion, industry leading devices in many categories. So the "first" in any category is always more expensive than the successors as production ramps up from the "one of" to the millions.
If we want the latest and greatest when it comes out the door, we have to be willing to pay dearly for that early buyer privilege. However, if one wants the fully loaded device, that price does not budge on the Apple retail store until the very end of the cycle where discounters clear out inventory or the Apple refurb store. I take advantage of being a veteren so I can get 10% off on day one.
I am crowding age 78 so do not want to delay and miss the opportunity to have used these great new devices. I am keeping my fully loaded 2019 Intel 16" Mac Book Pro on MacOs 12.6.2 because it is compatible with some of my older devices.
Remember the old saying:" One has to Pay to Play" and that is really appropriate in the computer world.
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