The laptop is a tool that many people use all day everyday. If the machine lasts you three years, that's about $5 per day which is pretty affordable.

If playing with software is your hobby, then spending $3500 over a couple of years on your hobby isn't outrageous. I know people that play guitar for fun and they wouldn't think twice about dropping that much on a used guitar.

My laptop is my primary tool I used in my job, which allow me to support my family and myself. I spend around fifty hours a week using it. Investing in a good tool, when there is a guaranteed pay-off and productivity (or living quality) increase isn't unreasonable at all.

I've said it elsewhere - the problem isn't the price, but rather that what all that money buys you is very little compared to the competition. Not just "a bit worse for the same money" or a "a bit better for a bit more money", but rather "a bit worse for a ton of extra money". That's unacceptable.