Probably because it is just not a deal breaker at all for most people or they just find the speakers to be fine, use Airpods or proper headphones etc. For me personally this was a complete non issue.
A good portion of my iPad Pro use is to evaluate audio on a small scale but good sounding device.
I’ve probably connected AirPods to it under 5 times because nearly the entire purpose of the device for me is web and content browsing, often pro audio content.
People have different use cases and it’s ny primary web browser.
For $2,000+ I don’t want compromises, especially downgrades from the old model.
People asked what could be improved implying there was nothing left, but it is objectively an area that could use improvement, since it was better before.
I think they will address it eventually whether through DSP changes or redesign, and I suspect it may be a silent upgrade.
That said, they could incorporate the sensing technology present in the HomePods which is a possibility – there are already patents for this on MacBooks but it isn’t yet implemented.
I have multiple sets of studio monitors for critical listening but the 12.9” iPad Pro M1/M2 is surprisingly excellent for its size.
The speakers are even substantially better than on the 15” MacBook Air, I a/b tested them and returned the MBA for that reason and also the poor display quality .
The M4 MBP is great on both fronts but I don’t want a 7 thousand dollar laptop on my kitchen counter and the footprint isn’t ideal for it either, the iPad Pro is a really excellent device and I’d like the nanotexture but not at the expense of compromised audio.
I recognize it’s not as important for everyone, but it is for me and a handful of other people I know in the pro / prosumer audio field.