The pre built laptop should come with an operating system that supper sets the hardware well to be comparable, I would say.
Performance isn’t everything in a laptop. Screen quality, weight, and battery life also matters. To be comparable, an alternative laptop should be at least in the same class in these aspects.
Does it count if I find a cheaper laptop that has better numbers than a macbook air that is more expensive?
I do think you might be right that building your own is more expensive now, not sure when that changed.
If I can find a comparable performing non apple device pre built for less, then the only sticking point is proprietary software?
The pre built laptop should come with an operating system that supper sets the hardware well to be comparable, I would say.
Performance isn’t everything in a laptop. Screen quality, weight, and battery life also matters. To be comparable, an alternative laptop should be at least in the same class in these aspects.