I'm a recent Apple convert. I decided about a year ago, after spending the better part of 10 years hacking my own computers together, that I no longer wanted to waste my time building the hardware. Everyone has different criteria for their hardware. For me what I really value is silence. My mac is the quietest computer I have ever owned. For that alone, I'm prepared to pay a premium. I know you can jump through hoops and make other computers near silent, but it just isn't worth it to me. My time is worth more. And, I just don't enjoy the endless faffing about with hardware - does this RAM fit in that motherboard. Is this hard drive compatible with this BIOS.....No thanks. Steve Jobs clearly cared a lot about the products Apple produced. And they are fantastic.
Cancer is a shitty way to go.
Rest In Peace.