Heck I was still using my 2012 Macbook Air until pretty recently, a decent machine if you don't mind that it gets really hot under load.

Barring any major fiascos (like past keyboard issues), the 2021 MBP does look built to last. We're in a good spot now in terms of stuff like a great screen (if you don't need constant 120Hz), low-power video decoding, a solid 8-core CPU, and probably even a passable gaming GPU. Should remain very usable even as it's outclassed in subsequent generations.

If you get the M1 Max with 32 core GPU, I bet that's actually well above "passable" for most gaming needs.

This is the model I’m getting.

Now if only I could get Deus Ex: Human Revolution to work on it.

How many games run well on ARM?

The Steam Deck is about to find out!

Steam Deck is running an x86 AMD processor, not ARM.

The Steam Deck does not use an ARM CPU.

My MacBook Pro from 2012 (the one without Retina display and had an optical drive too which I replaced with a secondary SSD) lasted me over 8 years. It finally overheated during summer (my house was very hot and fans were probably clogged). I do iOS and Android app development, so that $1000 device made me tons of money in return.

Yep. Still running a 2013 MBP here

Same here, for the first time in 8 years I’m considering to upgrade.

Same with my MBA 2012. Works great. Will get an M1 something or other and pass the MBA on to my daughter. If I get approx 10 years out of the M1?, I’m happy.