It seems to me that people have an idea in their heads, correctly or not, as to how things change. My M4 11” feels more rigid than my M1 11” ever did, not to speak of the 12.9/13” (I only tested those in store). Going thinner and lighter can be (and often is) a compromise but when it’s not…
By the time I need to replace this iPad (okay, want to replace it) I may well go back to the 13” size. The 11” remains a compromise that I don’t enjoy. It spends most of its time in the keyboard case because using it as a tablet is just that hair too awkward for me… and the larger size is absolutely more useful to me.