doggone

I have to agree that 512GB SSD and 16GB should be the base for MBPs.  For MB Air, I think there are customers that would be okay with just 256 SSD and 8 RAM, especially those who do mostly web surfing, zoom and Google docs.
The prices for increasing RAM and drive space are ridiculous though.  1TB SSDs can be had for $100.  16GB ram for less than $100 too.  Apple's margins on these are huge.
For that reason, I always buy my Macs online, generally using the AI guide to realize a savings of $200 or more on units with 512GB SSD and 16GB.  That negates Apple's surcharge to some degree.

"What, an Apple Car.  Let me tell you, companies have been making cars for a hundred years.  What could Apple bring to the product that they haven't already done?
And 120,000 dollars.  Who would pay that, especially when there isn't a physical keyboard."

Part of me is sad that Apple won't be making a car.  But we know it would be expensive (although 120K is out of my price range).  I was thinking it would be around 80K.  Therefore one reason for quitting would be it would have a small market base.
Maybe another part of the reason is there is still issues around charging etc.  People who buy electric cars typically can charge at home.  Sure those are Apple's core customers but a large number of customers will not buy an electric car because they cannot charge or the machine is out of their price range.
The market is beginning to get crowded, especially in the high end.  
And finally, Apple probably didn't want to sink too much money into battery giga-factories.  Without that the margins would be too low.

If this does become a major issue for a good number of people, the technology will have to adapt.  For example, if you want to dim a certain area say 5 x 5 pixels by fifty percent, don't switch off all at the same time 50% of the time.  Instead interleave the cycling on and off at a greater period of time off so that average intensity for that area is lowered by 50% but the effect is spread out across the time frame.  That way the dimming effect is spread out and flashing effect minimized.  It will be more complex to manage that way but would be easier on the eyes.

It is always interesting to see the teardowns but I sometimes cringe that they essentially destroy a brand new piece of equipment to do it.  I would never expect to be able to repair an AVP as we can see how complex the setup is.  

I think the fans will stay even if the chipset gets smaller and cooler.  Having the device on your face for several hours will get hot by your own body temperature.  So cooling will be essential for that.

Unfortunately Apple can't do anything about having to allow 3rd party stores.  I for one won't use them.  
Apple will have to figure out a way to sandbox those apps so they can't mine data from the phone that they don't generate themselves., like passwords, banking information etc. 
What I find bizarre is that Microsoft still have a big monopoly in OS software, Video gaming makers have close software stores and the EU doesn't do anything about those.