This isn't a real answer to OPs post. It's a half-baked suggestion that doesn't meet their needs. Some users' workflow is actually improved by the performance

This isn't a real answer to OPs post. It's a half-baked suggestion that doesn't meet their needs. Some users' workflow is actually improved by the performance of apple silicon and switching to a different machine means losing all that optimization. Not to mention, disrupting their entire workflow which was likely based around macOS specific utilities and shortcuts. And that's before you consider texting or universal clipboard. The issue just isn't as simple as 'buy shitty competitor laptop' to make OP's life better. I've had enormous frustration dealing with activation lock in the past but at the end of the day it's a feature and it does keep users safe.