Meanwhile today I get an ad from eero for a WiFi 7 router system that costs $1699

How do you imagine they profit?

I’m not one of these Apple salespeople, but I was a latecomer to iPhone. Started with the 12. It was the first device I owned as far back as I remember that didn’t feel like it was lagging/dying at the end of year one. And consequently I didn’t replace it as I had with years of Pixels, Nexus, Samsungs, etc prior. I think their hardware design is better. And I think the hardware + software tightness results in extending the life of the hardware. And I say this still wishing I could get the new Pixel devices - but I simply haven’t felt that feeling of my phone becoming irrelevant as much as I did with my various android devices.

Same story repeated with tablets -> iPads seem to last forever / until the wheels fall off. I’ve owned Galaxy Tabs, Nexus 12s, etc -> they do not have the same longevity period. It’s sad honestly I wish that weren’t true.

I have a MacBook Pro 2013 that still runs like new (one battery replacement along the way). I can’t even imagine what a 10 year old Dell or Lenovo or HP would be right now. A paperweight?