Following perceived wisdom, when I bought new computers in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2014, I purchased and installed double the RAM.
In 2017 when I got a 27" iMac with 8 GB RAM I fully intended to double that but for some reason I held back and never got round to it . . . and I have never felt that its performance has been lacking, even 7 years later.
My new bargain basement M2 Mac mini (8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD with 2 cheap external SSDs of 1 TB each) does tasks 3 times faster than the iMac.
Of course everyone's requirements are different and notions of performance are subjective which in the vernacular is usually referred to as YMMV.
Virtually every manufacturer of every product offers a low priced item to ensnare you and then tries to scare you into fearing it might not be quite good enough, so you had better upgrade. That's the basis of business and how large profits are made.
Whatever you buy, be it the most advanced car, TV or computer, it will be pathetic compared to those available 5 years down the line and you will still be left wondering whether the new model will be good enough.
Here endeth the lesson for Sunday the third day of December, Peace be unto you my brethren . 🙏