There are probably people in Apple who think desktop is dead or pro-only and didn’t think many people would want a lower end cheaper Mac. Why wouldn’t they just get an iPad?

Even with the newer keyboard, the iPad just doesn't work for me as a MacBook replacement. And really isn't lighter at that point. Yes, an iPad is better for watching movies on a plane but that's not really a reason to bring one relative to a MacBook Air when I could also just bring a Kindle Paperwhite which weighs nothing. I've tried and an iPad basically doesn't work for me.

Of there are, otherwise they would not have killed the few really desktop hardware, by what are now consumer electronics devices.