If they just made a HomePod that also worked as a WiFi router I’d buy the shit out of it.

The M2 is the base model. The entry model. Why are you comparing it to much higher tiers in the intel front?

They have a great product, but yes, I think the pricing is just a tad too greedy no matter how you look at it. I remember when Steve Jobs came back PowerBooks (and MacBooks) got more affordable year after year.