Draco

If you have $3K to spend on computing, you'd be better off buying a $500 iPad and a $2500 laptop. 

I don't see how an iPad can possibly be one's only computing device. I dare say virtually all iPad users also have access to another computer. 

Does Apple have any plans that aren't secret? 

Don't tell anyone, but I heard a rumor that the iPhone 16 will be the best iPhone Apple has ever made. 

This is what I like about Apple: They have a track record of not releasing products until they are fully baked and actually work the way you expect, while other companies treat their customers like beta testers. 

I'll believe AI is real when Apple releases an AI. 

Ternus is being truthful here. To the extent parts are paired, it's for security reasons, preservation of calibration data, or for safety reasons in the case of batteries. Apple makes enough money on the initial phone sale that they don't need to intentionally lock out third party repair parts to make more money. They also want to avoid returns and support calls from cheapskates who installed some random module from Alibaba to repair their phone. 

Having said that, Apple should do a better job making their devices easier to open. iPads for example, are essentially sealed shut. I have an old iPod classic that I want to upgrade to flash storage, but I'm dreading the idea of opening the unit up because from what I've seen on YouTube, opening a 7th gen iPod is slightly less complex than diffusing a bomb.