"Expensive and exclusive" is part of the brand.

That’s why the MacBook Neo is putting up numbers, because it’s expensive and exclusive. /s

IME Apple phones often end up cheaper over the life of the device because they get updates for 5+ years. Not everyone needs a Pro with maxed out specs. They’re hardly exclusive, either; have you seen how common they are? Every other person in the states has an iPhone. They’re often giving them away with cell phone plans. Getting a previous gen iPhone is probably one of the best values because it’s still fast and will be supported for years to come, but it’s significantly discounted.