You complain about complexity and engineering quality, but then say all of the options should be customizable here. I think one has to sort of pick what they want. Terrible build quality since the RAM dimms aren't soldered on, or, a completely un-upgradable system that's packaged nicely.

To go off your McDonald's analogy, you can get a lot of kCals without necessarily getting a lot of nutrients.

Edit: GP comment wasn't yours, but I think my point still stands.

I doubt that build quality and whether RAM is soldered on is related.