Not specifically an Apple thing, but Apple-emphasized. To put it simply, it’s Money. The way Apple splits people into can-haves and can’t-haves is financially clear and functionally obvious. Much of what Apple sells is.

Google is another example, with the state of their affordable phones/laptops (Chromebooks). They can utilize these better, but since it isn’t profitable to the company, these devices get the backseat. Meanwhile, tech journalists publish the Oohs and the Ahhs because most tech journalists are in the can-haves camp themselves.

I’m probably more agitated because in the past I wasn’t able to afford “luxury tech,” and later I was briefly a teacher to kids in similar situations. It’s also important to mention that Apple and other big tech companies kill independent shops which offer repairs and used devices for affordable prices.

Still, it gets worse. After we buy expensive tech, we keep buying it a bit every day by selling our data. The amount of information our tech spews about us to advertising companies is mind-numbing. I’d bet that if we had a law forcing companies to only sell data from people who opt-in for, say, 5% of the profits, a lot more people would be able to buy luxury tech.