Sure, I wish Apple either lopped a few $k off the price, or came out with something at half the price that had most of the good points.
It's been mentioned, but... Apple didn't. Just using a regular case would have accomplished it and they could still have tacked the Apple Tax on top of it and made some profit. Obviously they decided not to position the Mac Pro aimed at any target demographic except the top 1% - .1% in terms of cashflow/needs, because nobody else is going to buy it.
Which is exactly what Apple seems to want. "There's Cheesegrater, that's what 'you' (professionals) asked for, go buy it, or don't, we'll update it again in another half-decade." It's over in supercar/halo effect category. They obviously want to sell fewer units rather than more, and push everybody who doesn't urgently need it or has a larger than average disposable income, away from box with slots, towards iMacs -- or out of the Apple ecosystem altogether, "FU Apple! <shaking fist at sky> I'm gonna buy a Threadripper with liquid cooling, NOS Injection and a supercharger, for $12" ... but continue using your iCrap, and services. Honestly I don't know anybody who
needed Mac Pro, that didn't already leave Apple around release of trashcan. I know a lot of individuals and production houses that still have 5,1s and 6,1s in use, but can think of none that solely rely upon them at this point.
Mac Pro 7,1 looks incredibly cool, albeit opinions are always subjective. It will also generate endless conversations/attention, from people who are never going to buy it or contribute .5 cents to Apple's bottom line via this specific product, and I think Apple is well aware of this.
Generically I'm right there with you. I've purchased them in the past because I can, not because I needed them.
To your points:
1. Amen, but I wonder how the economic downturn (Covid) will effect Apple's bottom dollar, and if they will devolve to a more economical street value?
But... that computer is so damn sexy! Hearing my monkey brain talking.
It looks like they're already trying that with new MacBook Air, iPad, etc. If the entire world economy crashes and we enter a recession (highly likely), despite its massive cash reserves, Apple still needs to sell products to somebody. But I wouldn't hold my breathe waiting for Mac Pro. If there's a recession, they will just let it sit without upgrades longer (so half a decade at least, instead of possible upgrade in 3 years).
I've owned three Mac Pro computers (4 if you count the Power Mac); the Power Mac G5, the 2010 Mac Pro, the Mid 2012 version, and finally the affectionately named Trashcan. All of them were starter, lowest configured units, as I did not need more. All of them were very functional pieces of art, not one of which still hangs on my wall. How is a person who is now relegated to hobby web stuff supposed to justify a $6k starting price? No, I'm not asking for permission, just a technical justification when a comparable PC will run you $2,500 (home built) to $3,500 with a big name on the box.
Don't get me wrong, my Midi-chlorians are pushing me toward the dark side, but every time I pull my wallet out, I start thinking new truck or Mac Pro?
The p0w3r of the Dark Side is Shiny! Also, it's return of cheesegrater!
At the end of the day: be happy for 1st world problems. Many here can coast for years, decades, or forever; then go on shopping spree whenever stock market craters into sub-basements and hits somewhere near final bottom, but on the flipside of this headspace/life situation, it seems like half of America lives from paycheck to paycheck and is freaking out about how to buy food and pay their rent next month a lot more. I believe that most of planet Earth is over in this category. Mac Pro reboot was green-lighted during "strong" economy at absolute height of stock market and Apple's profitability/valuation. Right now I doubt anybody would green-light the project and their full focus will be on the low-end, and ensuring somebody out there is buying the next generation of all the iCrap which is what floats Apple's market cap.
If you're not a video editor or married to macOS ecosystem and small handful of programs that benefit from Mac Pro, and need further help with rationalization, here's a good review of 28-core from someone who is not in entertainment industry:
The question would be: do you need a new truck or a new Mac Pro? If you
*need* neither, and can't justify cash outlay for both simultaneously, which do you want more? If you need even further help with rationalization, well hey, you can keep Mac Pro going for a decade if necessary and upgrade it with myriad 3rd party parts which don't exist yet. Apple kept official support going for 5,1 for literally a decade.
Cheers, and good luck getting over on yourself and rearranging the content of your headspace until it seems like a good idea to push the [BUY!] button. <Passing you pitcher of Apple Koolaid> ...just keep staring at it. Let the lattice hypnotize you. It's based upon a naturally-occurring phenomenon in crystal structures. You need that. It will make you 900% more creative & generate over 27 times your current cashflow, while releasing 3x as much dopamine every time you get within 5 feet of it.
