“A better future would entail less frequent releases from Apple that are focused on larger, more meaningful updates that are worth spending money for — a point I’ve made before about the iPhone.”

Or… not. The major point that needs to be made is that Apple is continually improving their products and — as you pointed out — people do NOT have to upgrade unless or until they need to do so.

We’ve gotten to the point where each year there’s a new phone or table with largely incremental upgrades to screens, processors, cameras, and so forth, and by and large most people on the prior version don’t need to update their phones.

And you know what? They’re not doing it. It’s a known fact that upgrade cycles are increasing and people are keeping their devices longer.

But the thing is, what’s a mere “incremental” upgrade from the iPhone X to the 11 Pro is a much more significant upgrade from someone who’s on an iPhone 8 and it’s definitely a major upgrade from an iPhone 7.

And neither you nor I know where people are in their own, personal upgrade cycles.

So given the above, I’d rather have Apple produce the best products they can produce, as opposed to waiting a year or two or three for “significant” upgrades and in the meantime mass-producing products that are increasingly technologically behind the curve.

And for the record, the new iPad is nice, but my 2018 version handles my needs nicely, so no upgrade for me this year.

May spring for the keyboard/trackpad though, since — and as you didn’t mention — Apple made it backwards compatible with my 2018 iPad and so I don’t have to upgrade to benefit from it.