The Apple watch is best smart watch ever made. Far better to spend $400 on a useful watch than $200 on a useless one.
$3–4k is a normal price for that kind of hardware, it's not trying to compete with a Dell Inspiron.
At that price, other high-end professional workstations ship with beneficial options such as hard copies of offline-installable Operating System software, that does not require an internet connection. User-servicable parts, and expansion kits are normal. Variety and options are left open, to aid the owner in upgrading or altering the stock model. Professionals pay extra, to acquire versatile high-quality base units that they possess the skill to alter themselves, according to their preferred tasks.
Microsoft is experiencing the exact same sort of backlash against Windows 10, with too much phoning home, and network activity that flouts user consent.
As a professional, one expects an outfitter to appreciate the technical capacity for their clientele to negotiate complexity. One also expects a professional tool to perform exactly the task required, and only the task required, and nothing extra.
As a company Apple does not do this anymore. They sell fixed hardware profiles, and refuse alterations. They discourage meddling with low-level operating system components. The software is free, but you couldn't buy an offline copy if you tried.
Apple's hardware policies have changed. The machine you buy from Apple now, will not be upgraded by Apple, even with Apple parts, and in most cases has been engineered to prevent alteration at the expense of the unit. For example, Apple will not assist in upgrading from a 128GB SSD stick, to a 2TB SSD stick, even if they sell new models off the shelf with the same hardware profile. Doing so yourself will exclude a machine from receiving service at an Apple store.
Appliances are sold to lock in consumers, and coerce behavior. A professional selects equipment to enable activity, not to play into a business model.
I really want a new version of the cheese grater, but if that's not what comes out I'll just get another iMac (which isn't upgradable either, but it's cheaper and I'm not interested in running a Hackintosh).
The trashcan is cool, despite looking like a trashcan, but way too expensive for what you get.
Something at that price needs to last, and permit upgrades.
For what you get, and what you can do with it, it's not worth more than $1,000.
Many Apple fans buy for status though, and Apple knows this, hence the watch. So, simply having the price tag as an ornament works for some people.