So, $900 + $350 = $1,250 for 13” M2 iPad Air (256GB) with MKB. Or, $1,100 for base 13” M3 MBA (256GB). If I could only have one, I would pick the MBA. Someday, that might change, but iPad and iPadOS are just not there yet for me.
As a result, I start with the MBA and add the inexpensive iPad 10 ($350), if I want a ”complementary” or “secondary” device.