FWIW I've just bought a 9th Gen iPad today and it's bang on for my needs (standard iPad usage, emails/Chrome, iTunes, reading magazines etc)
The iPad Pro is overkill for that and got mine for £290 UK Sterling rather than c£500 upwards!
Unless you need the power of the M1 (or simply want it, which was me but couldn't justify that expense) then deffo try and steer her for the standard iPad!