Apple isn't repairable. Apple devices have high prices simply because of the brand ecosystem. Old Thinkpads use commodity parts - but they command good prices because they are repairable.
Marketing the new thing is what Apple does. It is good at it. That is not the entire spectrum of customer value.
Thinkpads are pretty much the worst form factor for a laptop that doesn't transition into "toy" space.
Source: forced to use one daily. If I could get a Mac laptop running Linux but with the input smarts of the Apple trackpad and keyboard, I would in a heartbeat.
That shows that 1) people are different or 2) you are a fan of Apple hardware. It doesn't show that Thinkpads are bad. IMO they are light-years ahead of anything Apple sells.
My trackpad is automatically muted/unresponsive while I'm typing. I suggest you figure out how to get palm rejection to activate/work on your setup, and to look if a different Thinkpad series might better fit your body (ergonomics wise).
Marketing the new thing is what Apple does. It is good at it. That is not the entire spectrum of customer value.