I think the MBP Retinas were perfect. It had the ports, the amazing screen and battery, perfect balance between size and weight. Are you telling me Apple couldn't have kept and improved on that model? Kept the ports, upgradability, etc.
I am dealing in the realm of the imaginary, sure you could compare the state of things as they currently are and make your judgement. Indeed, that is the choice of many. I am not doing that. I am invitating you to explore the possibility of what could be, should Apple have chosen to do differently.
At its most basic level, there is no physical impediment preventing Apple - or Nostr developers - from choosing the best of both worlds. Apple, however, is bound by more constraints than physical reality. This certainly helped push them in the direction they went.
My point is Nostr developers are not bound by these other constraints, and therefore have no impediments (other than their personal opinions, biases and their imagination) preventing them from choosing a best of both worlds' approach. Sure you and I could have different opinions of what that would mean, and yes we'd have to make concessions here and there, but hopefully you get my point.
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On a different note, personally I think ThinkPads look horrible. They are bulky, their keys look uneven, their trackpads (last i checked) were small af and had buttons, they have that ugly red dot on them, etc. Some ppl really love them and that is fine, but I have the feeling that a considerable portion of those, wouldn't love them as much if Apple didn't do some of the things you illustrated. Despite not being the focus of my comment, and me not agreeing with all he says (specially his take on asahi) I will leave this here: