For you maybe but seems a reasonable compromise to hit the price point and I bet you’d miss it less than you think

The trackpad still clicks better than 80% of all other non-Apple trackpads, for any price.

I’d say 100% with a fair share of confidence since Apple’s magic lies both in hardware AND software (as usual). The hardware is already phenomenal (and far above anything else in the market) but the Mac makes fantastic use of it in such a way that neither Windows nor Linux have managed to even start replicate.

True, I'm only considering the physical hardware clicking sensation in my 80% estimation :)

Tried one of those MacBooks Neos in a store a few days ago because I got curious.

As a Linux/windows user I was completely baffled that you actually have to click (at least in the default setting) to make a mouse click instead of just giving it a tap. Does anyone prefer that?

That’s configurable. That’s default on haptic-enabled Macs, but you can enable tap to click very easily.

I don't think anyone cares. I remember the switch from a MacBook with a (no-adjective) trackpad to a MacBook with a haptic trackpad. There was absolutely nothing earth-shattering about that switch, it was a great trackpad before and a great trackpad after.

True, I don’t think people care since Apple’s non-haptic trackpad is still far (and I mean FAR) better than anything else in the market. People who eventually move on to a higher priced Mac with a haptic trackpad will probably feel a difference and think of it as a nice bonus that came with their upgrade (and probably would not like to downgrade, if possible), but I dont think any newcomers would frown at its absence first-hand.