I've had a Mac Pro since 2009, started as a 2.26 Dual 4,1 currently morphed to 5,1 dual 3.33 GHz with SSD and RX580.
I' happy with it, does what I want, but very cognisant that it's on borrowed time regarding life of internals such as PSU, and logic board etc.
If mucking with the internal firmware is a major part of "does what I want" ( it is a control 'thing'. ) then probably should look to a current iMac. The changing to user chosen unapproved firmware is going away with the T2 roll out.
So where next? I could dig deep and buy a 7,1 base or slightly beyond, but my only justification is being able to do to it what I did with my 4,1 i.e.
If really not primarily a performance driven update probably the best move is to wait and see what Apple does with the Mac Mini in 2020 ( or 2021 if you are able and willing to coast that long). Apple made the new MBP 16" a bit thicker to put in a better thermal system. If they get the Mini unstuck from the same physical dimensions from 5+ years ago and update to 2020 era internals CPU options it will probably be a better option ( if not fixated on hacking the firmware. ).
I don't think the Mini will magically turn into the mythical xMac, but Apple would more so have a case and thermal design build for what they had as a CPU-GPU rather than what they wished (or some failed roadmap told them) they had.
You could pull your RX580 and put it into a eGPU and spend way less than a MP 2019.
The Mini doesn't have trivial disassembly, but if tinker/hobby activity is a side objective then periodically it can be opened (and cleaned out). [ ditto for the eGPU that takes a add-in card or two. ]
keep it going for ten years. Plus looks better for keeping airflows clean (dusty hot country) long term.
Macs with higher prices don't come with higher support lifetimes. The Mac Pro 2009-2012 models are probably more so an odd corner case than the rule. There was a extended support window because Apple goofed up, not because that was the initial objective when they started out with the 2009 models.
I don't think Apple is going to put the Mac Pro on a yearly cycle but if it is about a 2 year cycle then the 5-7 year Vintage/Obsolete cycle puts the expected range about 9 years. 10 is a bit of a stretch but doable ( but likely outside of security upgrades and/or latest features. )
All other options would have the power but I lack the faith I could keep them alive for the amount of time I did this 4,1.
There is a difference between "keep it alive' and add latest new shiny tech in the "keep up with the Tech Jones".
I'm slightly leaning toward an iMac but it feels like the thermals might be a compromise too far.
If you don't buy the bleeding edge and/or assign it workloads it wasn't design for, then it isn't. If you have relatively high disk write churn I'd be more concerned about that than thermals over a 10 year period.
By rights I shouldn't be in the market for a 7,1 but feel I'll get one late 2020-2021 due to a lack of alternative.
If can wait until late 2020 then probably should look at the options then. ( Apple mainly just 'kicked the can' on the iMac and the Mini in 2019. One of those should get some substantive upgrade attention in 2020. Probably the iMac Pro too but it doesn't look like that is a good fit here with performance not a key driver. )
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If you're talking iMac Pro, that's an improvement in thermals for sure, but I'd expect a spec bump on that within the next 3-6 months (maybe sooner) before Gen2 is released. Apple should drop the iMacPro price when MP7,1 is available, but we'll see if it actually happens.
If there is a decent upgrade coming for the iMac Pro in 3-6 months then Apple is unlikely to make any price changes on the release of the MP7,1. Especially, if it is that shorter end of that range 3 months MP actually shipping in volume. The current MP6,1 hasn't seen a price drop in 2 years (and was about 4 years before that small delta ). Apple's standard modus operandi is not to move on pricing once set ( there are rare exceptions but the iMac Pro probably isn't in one at this point. Apple needs an upgrade, not a start term price drop to show iMac Pro isn't going into Rip van Winkle mode. A price drop now will signal "abandoned" as much as anything else. )
Apple positioning the entry price of the MP at about $6K means the iMac Pro already has room in the Mac prize zones line. Apple should bump it down a bit more when the W 2200 series revised iMac Pro ship unless they do something something to counterbalance that. (e.g., attach a bigger and/or more expensive screen. Or push the core counts down and start at 10 cores with shorter BTO range in count if staying rigid on screen tech. ).
