Apple has more market power than you think -- they focus on a few models, those models sell like hot cakes and Apple pays for guarantees to get inventory. For Intel that means their factories keep pumping out chips like clockwork and inventory is low.

Dell or HP sells more units, but in 300 or more SKUs each. Apple is different enough to get better terms.

This. Intel does not make money from the CPU in the broader sense, they make money by running their production lines at full tilt and getting paid for what comes off them.

You didn't get better pricing you did get marketing money.

Money is fungible, so de facto you got a lower price.

Money is fungible, so de facto I got a lower price on my house by eating cheap ramen noodles for lunch.

Ability to get stickers is contingent on actually buying the CPU first. Buying ramen isn't contingent on first buying a house.

The post you replied to is saying "A rebate is de facto a discount."

Did you buy a batch load of ramen from the same supplier as your house?

A CPU is more essential to a computer than ramen for lunch is to a house.

Eating ramen noodles made home ownership more affordable for you.