This is a pretty dramatic take. You can get a brand new mac mini with an M1 for <$1000. The price drops significantly (<$500) if you get a refurb or pick up a

This is a pretty dramatic take. You can get a brand new mac mini with an M1 for <$1000. The price drops significantly (<$500) if you get a refurb or pick up a used one on ebay. $500 may still be a lot of money, but it's not "rich" money.