Yes, and while they're at it, why not offer a MacBook with Windows instead of OS X? Why not offer a subscription music service? Why do they insist on making premium products?
Why not make one of everything like Dell and let the market decide?
Obviously offering one of everything isn't what Apple does.
Offering the _best_ of everything is. So shipping a crappy SSD is dumb. (Personally I strongly suspect it's because they can get closer to that 100% hardware markup they love on a lower-end model, than because it's greener. But I'm sure "green" sounds better.)
I think "best" is part of the perception they market, but the reality is that they off er a variety of products that don't suck. Sometimes that comes across as "high end" because of how many other bag-sucking PCs are marketed as "cheap."
But seriously, when was the last time an Apple computer has the fastest CPU? Or the largest laptop screen. Or anything with a card reader. Or blue ray... Just pointing out that they are entirely willing to avoid the absolute top of the line and have done so consistently.
Maybe it's a margin thing as you say, I don't know...
Why not make one of everything like Dell and let the market decide?