I get it, there's now definitely a hurdle between "I got a computing device" and "I can program on it". I don’t think it's a huge hurdle though, you can and will be able to upgrade or just buy a full computer when and if you encounter its limitations.

Your car can't compete in races, but it doesn't affect you because you're probably not interested in racing. You're more interested in comfort and price.

Manual vs. automatic is a better comparison.

Driving a manual isn’t a required life experience by any means. But the overwhelming majority of people who know how to drive manual appreciate the knowledge and experience. (And it’s not necessarily more expensive, if anything Apple products are typically more expensive)