Name some software that has a wide performance gap? I guarantee you that the "recommended" configuration on most creative software is not really that high compared to Apple's current desktop/laptop lineup. That's one of the things that is so bizarre about people complaining about the hardware...most of the software is WAY behind. There isn't much legacy software that has been built from the ground up lately. That's why it's legacy. The specs aren't that high so the cheap business world won't complain too much.
What you're seriously missing in a lot of your comments here is that for professional users who use their devices as a means to earn a living, Performance scalability is important as it directly correlates to how much work they can finish in shorter periods of time. This directly trasnlates to being more profitable.
yes, the current lineup meets most softwares minimum, or even recommended specs. However, these are "Floors" to performance levels. not ceilings. Just because you meet the minimum or recommended doesn't mean you get the absolute best performance out of the software.
Lots of software scales with performance. The faster the hardware, the faster that software finishes it's task. Right now, if you are purchasing an Apple computer, it might meet the minimum/recommended specs, But its not going to be the fastest possible hardware you can buy. And it's not even the cheapest for the performance.
your diatribe about "legacy" software is irrelevant. Many things that are "Legacy" from software will still benefit from greater performance.
Simply put, if you're an individual whose livlihood depends on how quick your computer finishes its task, Apple's currently falling behind even on their most up to date hardware (MacBook Pros) and severely behind on just about everything else (Mini, Air, MacBook, Pro). MacOS might be a requirement for a few people, but right now, if you don't need MacOS, there are far better options for performance in the PC world, and unlike 15 years ago, many of those are built just as high quality as Apple's lineup.