Totally agree, a few years ago I had a 2015 27inch iMac with AppleCare which ended up getting a smudge under the display. Apple repaired it no problem.

About a year later, the stand became a little loose so over the course of the day it would end up tilting down.

Apple sympathised this was the 2nd time I had to send it in for a repair, they ended replacing with a similar specced iMac from the current year. They also give me the opportunity to upgrade any components I wanted just like if I was buying new. They also give me another 3 years of Apple Care. Ended up upgrading the CPU and GPU for about £300 and getting a brand new 2018 iMac

Obviously this is anecdotal but its things like this which keep me going back to Apple.

It depends on the person you get to help you, I think. Some friends have had faulty power supplies replaced even out of warranty but I was told they couldn't help me and I had to buy a new one. It's down to luck, I think.

100% agreed on the luck. I took my 2007 era MacBook to the Apple Store in 2009 or so for a battery that had begun to swell, and incidentally that had suffered from the notorious cracked top case issue. I had a friend that worked at the Genius Bar but he was busy with another customer so I just got luck of the draw with regard to technician.

Despite being out of the 1 year warranty without Apple Care, the woman who took my computer put in a work order to have the top case replaced and handed me a new battery off the shelf and rang it up $0.00

My friend was free as I was walking out of the store, and asked what it was I came in for. I explained about the top case and battery and when he realized I was getting the repair and replacement for free, he looked incredulous and said that he would've charged anyone for both of those without warranty or AppleCare.

I dropped my personal Dell laptop (XPS13) and broke the screen. Dell sent a tech to my workplace and repaired it.

No charge.

What's your point? That you have Dell Complete Care on a work machine you don't pay for?

My point is Apple care is not the only suitable option. I didn't select any additional support, it came with the base model (which was refurbished).

You definitely have some deal with them. I couldn't get them to respond before I showed some proof of warranty when my Dell XPS battery inflated.

Mine came with a faulty screen from a third-party, also had a Dell technician come to my office and replace it there and then.

You've paid for this and you know it.

Lenovo on site pricing on a higher end X1 Carbon. One year, $19, Two year $89, Three year $149, Four Year $269.

Accidental Damage adds $49, $99, $129, $199, $219.

Does two years of Apple Care get you on site and accidental coverage for under $200? Oh and no deductible. Apples per incident Accidental Damage on a Covered AppleCare+ device is $99-299.

And yet I'd bet the laptop was still cheaper tham a comparable one from Apple, where the built-in upcharges are for thinness, macOS, and extortionate non-upgradeable RAM that you'd better buy up front because you don't want to be stuck with not enough RAM in a year or two.

Does it matter when getting good support from Apple requires buying AppleCare? Dell is solving the problem of not having physical stores to do servicing by sending people in trucks.

Of course, you pay for it with Apple, too.