While buying what may arguably be "the best" may sometimes save money in the long run, I have to draw the line with some things and computers is one. This is a case of yeah it would be very nice if..but some things are not in the budget and it certainly will not cost me more in the long run not to own a Mac.
Well, I've seen that principle of getting quality versus junk pay off for me many times over again, in different areas. Now, I know some will throw money away and not necessarily get the best, but simply get whatever costs the most. That's not what I'm talking about. It's quality and getting a good deal at the same time.
And that's what you've got with Macintosh.
One example that I have for a relative (just something that I actually see in my own family) is with me getting a laptop and in that period of time that I have that laptop (which I still do), seeing the relative get three laptops in the same period, the others having given up the ghost or something going wrong. I even helped get a Thanksgiving Day sale for the relative two years ago, where I got a "good deal" (standing in line overnight... LOL...) for some model that was about $475... That's history now... :-)
In fact, it's sitting in a dresser drawer right now, and it doesn't work. Now, it's not my computer and I don't take care of it, so I can't go into whatever is wrong with it, because I don't know. But what I do know is three laptops and I'm still on my one... :-)