So is the M2 Pro better than the M1 Max? Of course not, it's clear as mud.

Not trying to argue that the naming scheme is great, but I think they are trying to align it across multiple product lines, in which case it sorta makes sense.

They already have airpods use the same naming scheme, with the basic ones just being Airpods (without any suffix), then the next better option is Airpods Pro (the in-ear ones with active NC), and then their most expensive premium option is Airpods Max (large over the ear headphones with active NC, dial, and ability to still use them in wired mode with standard 3.5mm aux). The hierarchy is the same as with M-chips, with the most basic to the most premium being (no-suffix)=>Pro=>Max.

As a sidenote, I partially blame whoever wrote the article title for the confusion in this thread. They used proper name for M2 Macbook Air, but didn't use M2 Macbook Pro for the MBP. Dropping the "Macbook" part served exactly no purpose but to (most likely unintentionally) confuse the reader.

M2 Incissor is about on par with the M1 Omega.

Once upon a time, the word "deluxe" carried valuable meaning when prefixing/suffixing a product.

Some point later, Walmart started selling store-brand "Deluxe Chocolate Chip Cookies".

Pro is just the new deluxe.