iPad Pro 11" stuck in boot loop, Apple logo, cannot update/restore- possible auto update issue?

I plugged in my iPad overnight June 19 and went to sleep. I wake up and my screen is stuck on a black the apple logo. For DAYS.

It occasionally flickers out then pops back up.

I tried to restart it multiple times, nothing, no response at all. I have researched so many similar complaints and it seems that the automatic update that night may be the culprit. Anyone else have this same issue? And anyone actually get it fixed?

Details:

Bought it new with Apple Care in 2019.

It does not have a home button.

I've done EVERYTHING recommended online and in Apple support, including plugging it into my computer and updating via itunes...3 times....never worked. Still stuck on apple logo.

I am a digital Illustrator and work with Procreate exclusively. All my artwork files are on iPad. I toggled on Procreate for iCloud backup and can only hope all my files were saved properly. Because if I reset and restore, I wipe all my years of work, as you know.

No, I didn't have a backup in iTunes. Just iCloud.

I finally tried to do a reset and restore via iTunes, but it would not recognize my ipad after 3 failed updates. Or maybe the updates messed something up, I don't know. iTunes said the update was installing on the third try and that it was restarting the iPad, but it never restarted. Just stayed on same apple logo.

I took it into the apple store.

They plugged it into iTunes and said my port was bad, that they couldn't recognize any device or get the SN. "Sorry you need a new ipad. We can't reset and restore it without being able to identify the SN."

Really?

Ugh. Replacement will cost $500. I also won't be able to get any Apple Care on it, he said. Which sucks, since it seems the automatic update likely crashed my iPad, and the port was working before all of this and even during the updates...until it didnt. And actually the port is still working as in, charging, something just isn't communicating with the computer. I don't see how they can say definitively it's the port causing the issue. I think they knew it was the update and didn't want to admit it crashed/fried my computer.

Other thing that sucks about the replacement route is that if I just hand over my old iPad, I can never hope to try to recover the data....ever.

This is ridiculous.

The automatic update causing crashing and boot issues has been a known problem for several years. How can they keep charging ppl when they are at fault?

My small etsy store is on hold already over a week now because of this update crash. So frustrating. I can't afford even $500 for replacement, much less a new one with Apple Care, which is what I need.

I need my iPad working.