That’s what RIM and Palm said, people will always pay for upper tier. No one will ever replace us.
I remember RIM and Palm and there is no comparison. Although they were successful, they were far less successful for far shorter a time, with a smaller product portfolio than Apple. "No problem on the horizon" is not the same as claiming Apple to be infallible or that it will be forever successful.
There have been the chronic nay-sayers who have said that Apple is on the verge of a fall since the iPhone was first released. I suppose if they say it long enough, it will eventually be true. But that is not going to happen any time soon.
Even though you acknowledge what Apple is doing, you just purchased 3 of their premiere products and closed by saying, "Unless that changes next year
I don’t think I fall for it again". So even if they don't change, you are still open to the possibility of buying another round of devices next year.
I don't say that as a dig or to insult you, but to point out that if those who DO see what's going on aren't changing their purchasing habits, why would those who DON'T see (what you see) do anything different?
The number of people who SEE and DO something different is extremely small. Even myself, who stated regularly that I'm on a phased approach to leaving Appleland and have already replaced some of my Apple devices with alternatives, will still buy Apple products (like the 2018 iPad) that represent OUTSTANDING value.
Apple has engaged in psychological testing of its customers and they are very much in tune with what they can get away with. Everything they do is met with a segment of their customer base getting upset and agitated at a change they make, they vent a little, shrug, and move on and buy the Apple product they were complaining about... rinse and repeat.
