Cloud storage is a thing. I don't run games on my hobby laptop. I also have external storage for sensitive docs (encrypted). I use like 50% of the storage right now.
People always respond with "cloud storage is a thing" as you have, but the point that people are trying to make is: Apple is hella overcharging for memory and storage.
And instead of everyone going "Apple, stop this" and creating change, they'd rather defend the $1T company by spouting "but the cloud".
Everyone going "Apple, stop this" won't do anything. Voting with your wallet might. Otherwise, you have freedom of choice to select a different platform/vendor.
I have tons of complaints about Apple, but this isn't one of them (the 256GB works for my family machines).
In what world is "keep buying Apple hardware but also pay for cloud storage" "voting with your wallet"
If you want the most well integrated cloud storage with these machines you'll be paying for cloud storage from Apple anyway, I'm sure Apple will be fine
my phone has 16gb ram and 512gb storage, if i'm paying 50% more than i spent on it i expect at least those specs on a current, or maybe last gen macbook, not half the storage and memory on a 2 generation old device