Much of your post is down to how your own worldview is interpreting others' actions, and nothing to do with the actions themselves.
The way people use Apple products as a status symbol really makes me regret that Apple has good products.
Why do the actions of others affect you in this way?
Between folks arguing over 8% screen size increases
Arguing or discussing? Whichever it is, these folks must really care about what it is they're talking about. They must have a strong interest in it. If I went to a car forum, I wonder if people would be arguing (or discussing) wheel trims. I can't imagine anybody would want to do that but, word is, people are diverse and have a wide range of interests and, even more than that, they even have differing levels of interest in these different things. Who. Knew.
who is going to purchase what product that they don't need just for consumption
A range of reactions to this one. Take your pick:
1. Nobody needs an iPad or an iPhone. Nobody needs a new pair of jeans.
2. People find it fun to get new things and to talk about them.
3. People get excited about the suspense of getting a new thing.
4. People find fun in things.
5. Why are you against people finding fun in something that interests them in their one life?
6. Uh oh, IpadsRIpads doesn't agree with how someone spends their money!
the upgrade every year even though you don't need to (when the products themselves are inherently designed to last upwards of 5 years)
Nobody needs a new iPad or an iPhone. Nobody needs a new pair of jeans.
People find it fun to get new things.
People get excited...
...Uh oh, IpadsRIpads doesn't agree with how someone spends their money!
to the brag lines (what apple products a person has)on peoples profiles
Brag lines? Or a conversation invitation about one's experience with the products they have on a site dedicated to the company that makes those products? As I said at the beginning, your worldview is inventing some very strange motivations behind others' actions.
It's just really sad that society has gotten to this point where a person has to be in possession of the newest stuff to feel acceptable.
This point does not relate in any way to the rest of your post. You're drawing this conclusion from your strange interpretations of others' actions. But, to discuss this point in and of itself, society got to that point a long time ago. Years, decades, centuries ago. iPhones, cars, jewellery, suits, pocket watches, cutlery, cuisine, the biggest stick. And that is not society. That is species. That's feeling sexually attractive. That's feeling 'alpha'. That's feeling tribe leader.
There are specific reasons I like the apple and quality of product is one of the main reasons. The ONLY reason I even pay attention to what's coming out next is to find out if the iPhone is going to step up the water proofing as well as if/when the iPad is going to go waterproof. When/if that ever happens, I will be getting my last "non necessity" i product. Only when I absolutely HAVE TO upgrade will I be upgrading.
Similarly, I'll get a new pair of shoes when my current ones wear out. My neighbour down the street though, he loves a new pair of trainers every month. It's his fun.
So it seems waterproofing is what matters to you. Great. For others, it's a super smooth screen in a device they look at every day. For others still, it's a better camera in the device they film their families with. Hell, for some others, it's a new colour. Are you suggesting your desires in this particular regard are more valid than - and of moral superiority to - those of others? (The answer, of course, is Yes, yes you are suggesting this).
Now, I admit to having thought similar things to your post when I was a teenager and even into my twenties, but I would've thrown in something about the environment too for good measure. Thankfully, I no longer judge people on how they spend money or where they find joy in their lives because:
My choices are no more valid than anybody else's.
There is no right way to live.
The actions of other people do not reflect upon me.
Peace, love, and Pride bands.
