Most of what the author mentions, like the "bloatware" (that happens to be one of the best OEM pack-in values in the history of personal computing) is personal

Most of what the author mentions, like the "bloatware" (that happens to be one of the best OEM pack-in values in the history of personal computing) is personal preference. There absolutely is a problem with the direction of Apple's pro laptops, though, and that is simply that they've lost the pragmatism of the Macbook Pro line: A balance of current and future ports is pragmatic. Going from exclusively USB-A to exclusively USB-C is not. Making the occasional experience of replacing the battery harder in exchange for a thinner and lighter device is pragmatic. Making the everyday experience of typing on the keyboard less reliable for a thinner and lighter device is not. Adding a novel new mode of interaction to high-end models is pragmatic. Adding the Touch Bar to the base 15" model and increasing the entry-level price point by 20% is not. There has always been an element of designer vanity to Apple's products, but it has been tempered by pragmatism. The 2016 MacBook Pro marks the point where vanity gained the upper hand – and I hope pragmatism takes it back soon.