I am not taking about you specifically, geez. I think you have to understand that most people do drop their phones on hard surfaces several times during the device’s lifetime. If the phone is not in a case, it’ll incur either cosmetic or critical damage.
Again, you appear to be moving the goalposts, I have given you an example of applications that require high-end performance and these examples are no less valid just because you do not have any interest in them.
AAA games push even the 17 Pro Max to its limit so there is a large differential between the entire 17 and Air line when comparing sustained performance. The Air does not perform anywhere near as well as the Pro line in such regard because of thermal limitations.
I have also said, in a separate thread, that the vast majority of users do not engage in intensive enough tasks to see a noticeable difference in performance between a Pro and Air.
I would see the difference which is why I am ruling out the Air as a possible option for my future phone.