I think this has little to do with the "reality distortion field" and everything to do with Apple steadily and irreversibly appliance-ifying their product line

I think this has little to do with the "reality distortion field" and everything to do with Apple steadily and irreversibly appliance-ifying their product line combined with a distinct lack of any kind of indication of direction for Apple and actual computers for people who do work. A lot of people were waiting for the MacBook announcement to give some hint, and a lot of them think they got one: Not a peep about anything besides a slightly more appliance-ified (and nothing else) laptop. Regardless of strategic Cook leaks: Apple is deprecating macs-as-computers-for-professionals. It should be obvious why; so many HNers love to cheer market forces. Apple makes way more money on phones and shiny things, so that's all they're going to make from now on. Because the market cannot afford inefficiencies, and anywhere someone is making $0.99 when they could be making $1.00 is an inefficiency that must be corrected.