It really isn't, but good on your for sticking to your guns.
I guess OP's suggested iPod touch max (about the size of a kindle, the inference being that it is good for reading on) would indeed be wasted on you.
I have to agree with the guy who's sticking to his guns. He isn't saying he wouldn't find a slightly smaller iPad Mini to be useful. He's arguing against rebranding and
changing the functionality of iPad Mini.
Here's what I see in the OP's post:
1) Realign the iPad product lineup by eliminating two iPad models - first, merge two products into one (iPad and iPad Air). Second, move iPad Mini into the iPod Touch brand while slightly down-sizing it to Kindle size and switching back to iOS from iPadOS.
2) Change the iPhone product lineup so that it has a standard-sized and max-sized model in each of three tiers: SE, mid-priced iPhone, and iPhone Pro.
Overall, this is the classic, "reorganize and simply the product line like Steve did when he returned to Apple" meme.
First, iPad:
So far, nobody's argued that there needs to be both an iPad and iPad Air. That must tell us something. The iPad Mini/iPod Touch Max, however, is another matter.
It's not a matter of whether it would be useful to have a somewhat smaller iPad Mini... Why not? Current iPad Mini is 5.3" x 8", the Kindle Kid's Edition is 4.7" x 7.4" - other Kindle models are around 4.5" x 6.3".
But why does a slight down-sizing of Mini demand a
rebranding? It's easy to imagine, "The new iPad Mini, even easier to handle than ever!" Since many Mini users are healthcare workers, restaurant servers, warehouse clerks, etc. who are carrying them around all day, a slight downsizing could seem a plus.
Again, why rebranding? iPad has a very specific meaning in the public mindshare, iPod Touch has an entirely other meaning. Just what would be the point of retraining the public to think that an iPod Touch can be equivalent to an iPad? iPod Touch has always been
smaller than an iPhone, so suggesting it can have a screen much larger than an iPhone... major re-education.
To a large extent, iPod Touch is seen as a child's product - what parents buy when they don't want their kid to have a phone and/or always-on internet access (and the cost of the service plan). Does it make sense to reclassify a product that is currently sold in large numbers to business/professional users as a child's toy? Further, the brand also connects to iPod's history of "1,000 songs in your pocket." An iPodTouch Max would certainly
not be pocketable.
The only justification I can come for a rebranding is the OPs desire to remove iPadOS from the Mini. Changing (dare I say crippling) the functionality of Mini could indeed justify a re-brand. An iPad that doesn't run ipadOS?? So yes, the iPad name would have to go.
As I see it, Mini (and even a Kindle-sized Mini) is large enough to run iPadOS. I'm certain there are plenty of Mini users who would be quite unhappy to lose one or more of the features that distinguishes iPadOS from iOS. So as much as the OP might wish for it... I seriously doubt that would happen.
As to iPhone:
Yes, currently Apple Stores and Apple Store Online sell just SE, Xs, Xs Max, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. That's four "new" models (SE, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max) and two value-priced "last year's model." Is the OP suggesting the "new" product line be expanded from four to six (with last-year's models bringing the roster up to eight or more), or that Apple Store's lineup of six phones be realigned to offer a max version in each of three product tiers? That's not clear.
Further, Apple is still selling/producing a larger range of models for sale by resellers/carriers, with older, lower-priced models available in less-affluent countries/regions. Is the OP proposing a world-wide slimming? That's also not clear.
