I still don't agree with that assessment as the iPad Air 5 goes on sale can be had for $519, which is only $70 more, which gives a much better experience for not that much more. With the iPad 10, you are getting a gimped experience compared to the Air 4 and currently, it's a bad value.
Also, I disagree with your disagreement too. I just want people to get the best value and at the price, it's obvious that Apple wants to upsell people by making the base level iPad unattractive. It's obvious you defend Apple putting out inferior version of the base iPad while jacking up prices. I think Apple should be making the best value products at the best value, but the iPad 10 isn't it, especially at $449. Likewise, the same can be said about the iPhone 14, releasing the same phone with the same SOC, with a few minor improvements while jacking up prices outside the US.
As I said, if it's 329 or 349, the iPad 10 being gimped wouldn't be an issue, but at $449, its in an awkward place in the lineup since it's a bad value for what it is with it still using a non-laminated display, Apple Pencil I in 2022 (this should have been killed off in this version and replaced with the 2), and a keyboard case that only works on the 10 and worse performance compared to the Air 4 using the same SOC.. It's obvious that Apple intentionally made the product worse to drive people to the more expensive models, instead of providing the best value like with the iPad 9.
I want Apple to make the best value products as Apple currently has the best ecosystem. Also, I own Apple Stock, but I don't mind criticizing them when it's warranted. In this case with the iPad 10, they do deserve criticism as this is a bad value product that they intentionally made worse, when it doesn't have to be this way.