I suppose that depends on what device category you place the iPad. To many, it's a particularly hobbled laptop, especially with the advent of 2-in-1s.
>Apple actually provides software updates for devices for years longer than their competitors
This is also debatable. The nature of Apple's sandbox means that it's much harder to find third-party support. A nominal official upgrade that effectively bricks your older device doesn't compare favorably to a PC or phone that can have FOSS replacements installed that actually increase performance.
Just the fact that Apple actually provides software updates for devices for years longer than their competitors seems to disprove at least part of this statement. Their investment in retail stores and customer service is laudable, but to say the iPad has any competition in any of the metrics mentioned above is not true.