Well, I think the thing about Apple(and the over zealous fanboys they attract who, certainly, make a lot of people wary of ALL Mac users)and their lifestyle products is that they have nothing to sell them BUT style over content and people who choose dorm over function and fluff over value have always annoyed the every day populace who DO buy their stuff based more on value.
I can see a reason for people buying both Mac and/or PC(used both myself and for some things a Mac is preferable to me-esp for some of my work)but I see little reason beyond fashion, fad or fitting in for buying iPads, iPods or iPhones. every one of their lifestyle products is totally overpriced AND, compared to rival, better made and better equipped products also under performing. Unless you place a premium on a particular(and, imo, tired) design ethos just why would you choose an iPhone over a lower priced and better peforing Android from anyone else? In MP3/4 players the price and performance thing is even worse and always has been. Until Apple make their stuff worth it's price in terms of performance then of course people will wonder whether those buying it are either following the herd and buying status rather than buying in an informed way(and presuming some buy because it makes them feel they're showing how well they're doing financially is a sure part of this)and much of the advertising plays into this making non Apple people find it harder and harder to see any other reason why you WOULD buy into the Apple lifestyle schtick.
Personally, I HAVE an iPhone as, stupidly, I hoped it would mean I'd end up carrying fewer things about but as, and this goes for all phones even today, it isn't a gaming machine of any depth or feel at all, but worse-it's not a great phone or MP3/Video solution and remains a dearer way of doing all the things I'd hoped it was capable of doing well and only does to a pretty average standard and way short, in most cases, of specialist items AND all rounders bought elsewhere. I feel like I bought something which, outside of being an Apple design, is an inferior bit of tech and as a result all my iPod feelings were rekindled-and they've never been great outside of their design and branding.
So, and I think it's pretty fair and not that similar to console fanboys(as at least the exclusives offer a reason for a kind of loyalty based on preference that can't be quantified by performance alone), I think some people have a point in wondering exactly why someone would buy into the Apple lifestyle range these days and as a result some not-too-complimentary conclusions are being drawn because to some of us it's hard to grasp how an Apple product is better than it's competition or anything like value-unless there's some, non value, non tech performance. Apple would not be alone in selling their products on the basis of an intangible like status and because many believe that's why people DO buy Apple products then those buying them will forever be wondered about over their reason FOR buying them.
