Disclaimer: This are just some random thoughts as an iPad Pro user (for 6 years), and as a Macintosh user (for 14 years). I’m not agreeing with either side, because I’m not a black or white person, I believe life is full of colors (it’s a spectrum) and nuances.
I’m using my M2 iPad Pro with iPadOS 17 right now, as a tablet, and I’m enjoying it a lot. I don’t think there’s a better tablet experience. Buttery smooth, pristine and responsive display, very efficient… As a tablet, it’s great, and probably even better for those who use it for artistic purposes.
However, once I plug it to my external monitor, while the device is quite usable, it doesn’t shine like as when being used as a tablet… because it’s still a tablet. An exceptionally good one, mind you, but if Apple wants to entice a public looking for an hybrid experience, they need to improve the UI a bit more, and allow Mac software to be installed freely from the internet. Only then, It won’t only shine as an exceptional tablet, but also as a multipurpose device. One that you work with on the street, on the bus, on the go -as a tablet-, and then when you get home, you just plug it into your desk setup (monitor + keyboard + mouse/trackpad), and you can use it as your main computer.
But I’m not sure Apple wants that. They much prefer you to get a Mac for your home… However, it doesn’t make much sense to limit that on iPads, if they already have MacBooks that you can use on the go and when you get home, plug them to your desktop setup (monitor + keyboard + mouse/trackpad), and use them as a desktop Mac…